Elon Women’s Basketball Set for Date with Tigers Friday

ELON, N.C. – After a thrilling, SportsCenter worthy finish in double overtime in its last game, the Elon women’s basketball team (14-8, 7-4 CAA) returns home to host Towson (5-17, 2-9 CAA) on Friday, Feb. 12, for a 7 p.m. tip 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

After last second threes at the end of regulation and the first overtime to keep the game alive, Shay Burnett scored on a layup with one second remaining in the second overtime to give the Elon a 66-64 win at Delaware in its last game on Sunday. A Lauren Brown three with six seconds left in regulation found the bottom of the net to even the game against the Blue Hens and send the game to overtime. In the first overtime, Burnett drained another three with two ticks left for a second overtime period. With 1.7 left on the clock, Burnett bounced the ball off a UD defender to get the ball back in her hands and score the layup for the game winner. Burnett led the Phoenix with 18 points and claimed her sixth double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. Jenifer Rhodes also posted a double-double after 10 points and a career-and-game high 12 boards. Brown tallied 13 points for the Phoenix followed by another 11 from Malaya Johnson.

Scouting the Tigers

Towson is looking to snap a seven-game losing streak with its last win coming on Jan. 15 against Elon in Towson, Md. Five of TU’s nine conference losses this season have come by five or less points. The Tigers are led by junior Raven Bankston who is averaging 15.9 points per game and ranks second in the league in scoring, while also ranking second in steals with 2.4/game. Dominique Johnson follows with 14.2 points/game, which ranks fourth in the CAA, and is also third in the conference in threes made with 47 on the season. Both Johnson and Bankston sit atop the league in free throw percentage in second and third, respectively, owning 88.9 and 84.4 percent marks from the line. Sianni Martin also averages in double figures in scoring with 10.5 points per game, while Daijha Thomas leads Towson on the boards with 7.0 rebounds/game.

The Series

Elon owns the all-times series advantage, 2-1. The Phoenix came out victorious in both meetings last year, including a 58-43 win in Alumni Gym on Jan. 18, 2014. The Tigers came out on top, 85-78, earlier this season on Jan. 15 at Towson.

ONE

Did you know that Shay Burnett’s game winner at Delaware on Feb. 7 was feature on ESPN’s SportsCenter as one of the top plays? Watch the highlight here.

Elon in Overtime

After its overtime game at Delaware on Feb. 7, Elon is now 17-11 all-time in overtime games and 1-3 when the overtime goes past one period. The Phoenix has played three overtime games this season, two of which have gone to double overtime. The maroon and gold fell in double overtime at Navy on Nov. 24 and to James Madison in single overtime on Jan. 10 before winning its first OT game of the season against the Blue Hens. The team’s double overtime game at Navy on Nov. 24 marked the first time Elon played more than one overtime period since a four overtime game against Western Carolina in 2008.

Season’s Best

The Phoenix shot a season-high 48 percent in its Feb. 5 game against William & Mary. Elon finished 26-of-54 from the field for the mark, including six buckets from long distance for 38 percent, and tallied 32 points in the paint.

Mark Your Calendars

Phoenix fans should mark their calendars for Elon’s annual Play 4Kay game on Sunday, Feb. 14, against the Northeastern Huskies.

From the Line

Shay Burnett owns an 80.2 percent mark from the charity stripe this season, which ranks third in the league. The sophomore ranks 38th nationally and first in the CAA in free throw attempts (131) and 29th overall and first in the CAA in free throws made (105). As a team, Elon leads the league in both free throw attempts (458) and free throws made (317), which ranks 45th and 58th in the NCAA, respectively.

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 4.5 blocks per game as a team, which ranks 65th nationally and fifth in the league.

On the Boards

Elon currently ranks second in the conference in rebounds per game (42.32 /game). The Phoenix holds a positive 2.2 rebounding margin, which is fourth in the CAA, is second in offensive rebounds (15.1/game) and is second in the league in defensive rebounds (27.2/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, 455-320, and averaging 20.6 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 an 83-65 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 51-16 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

Elon remains home in Alumni Gym on Sunday, Feb. 14, to host Northeastern in its annual Play 4Kay game. Tip is set for 2 p.m. against the Huskies.