Elon WBB: Seahawks Visit Alumni Gym for Tuesday Game

ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team (10-7, 3-3 CAA) hosts UNCW (5-12, 1-5 CAA) for a rare mid-week league game on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym. Tickets can be purchased through the Elon Ticket Office. Admission is $15 for courtside seats, $8 for reserved seats and $5 for youth (12 and under).

Last Time Out
Elon snapped a three-game losing skid with a 52-41 victory over College of Charleston in its last game on Friday, Jan. 22. The Phoenix went 17-of-51 from the field to shoot 33 percent. It was the first time in 90 games that Elon did not hit a basket from beyond the arc, going 0-14. The team hit 18-of-25 attempts from the charity stripe for a 72 percent mark and led on the boards, 45-36. Essence Baucom finished 4-of-6 from the field for 10 points on the night to go with five rebounds and three assists. Malaya Johnson also had 10 points and five boards, while Shay Burnett posted seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Scouting the Seahawks
UNCW is looking for its first win since a 52-49 victory at Towson on Jan. 10. The Seahawks have lost three straight games against Hofstra and College of Charleston and, most recently, at William & Mary. Shatia Cole leads the team with 11.5 points per game followed by Naqaiyyah Teague, a CAA Preseason Honorable Mention selection, who posts 9.9 points and hauls down 6.4 rebounds per game. Jordan Henry is the Seahawks leader on the boards with 8.2 per game.

The Series
Elon and UNCW have met 11 times previously with the Phoenix holding the 6-5 advantage. Last season, the Seahawks claimed the win in both regular-season meetings last year before the Phoenix took a 60-48 victory in the quarterfinals of the CAA Championship in March. The teams met earlier this year on Jan. 3 with the maroon and gold claiming a 67-60 win in Wilmington, N.C.

From the Line
Shay Burnett owns an 80.4 percent mark from the charity stripe this season, which ranks fourth in the league. The sophomore ranks 30th nationally and first in the CAA in free throw attempts (112) and 21st overall and first in the CAA in free throws made (90).

Block Party
Elon’s 17 total team blocks on Nov. 29 against East Tennessee State marked a new Division I single-game high this season and also set a new CAA single-game record. The Phoenix saw five players set new or match career highs in blocks against the Buccaneers in Malaya Johnson (5), Autumn Carter (4), Essence Baucom (2), Lauren Brown (2) and Maddie McCallie (1). Elon is currently averaging 4.6 blocks per game as a team, which ranks 68th nationally and fourth in the league.

On the Boards
Elon currently ranks second in the conference in rebounds per game (41.06/game). The Phoenix holds a positive 1.7 rebounding margin, which is third in the CAA, is third in offensive rebounds (14.6/game) and is fourth in the league in defensive rebounds (26.5/game).

Off the Bench
The Elon bench has been a contributor to the maroon and gold’s success this season. The Phoenix bench is outscoring the opponents, 353-270, and averaging 20.8 points per game.

Elon is Perfect When…
The Phoenix has a perfect record on the season in games played on Saturday (3-0).

Head Coach Charlotte Smith
Elon head coach Charlotte Smith is in her fifth season with the Phoenix and owns a 79-64 career record. Smith has led Elon to three straight conference tournament semifinal appearances, as well as an at-large bid to the 2015 WNIT, the first in program history, after a 19-13 overall record and 11-7 league mark in its first season in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Home-Court Advantage
Alumni Gym has proven to be a tough place to play for opponents under head coach Charlotte Smith. The maroon and gold is 49-16 in Alumni Gym in five seasons under Coach Smith. The Phoenix went 10-5 at home during the 2014-15 season after a 10-4 record during the 2013-14 season. The Phoenix has lost no more than five games at home in a season under Smith.

Next Up
The Phoenix goes on the road for two straight games, beginning with a 2 p.m. tip on Friday, Jan. 29, at Northeastern in Boston.