ELON, N.C. – Elon University women’s basketball is set to welcome preseason CAA favorite James Madison to Alumni Gym on Friday night, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. The game is set to air on Phoenix All-Access. The radio broadcast can also be heard on Phoenix All-Access.
GOING FOR THE RECORD
In an effort to break the attendance record for the highest-attended game in program history, the first 500 students at the game will receive a free t-shirt while free pizza will also be offered to students attending the game. Additionally, students can enter at the student entrance to Alumni Gym can register to win an iPad.
THE SERIES
All-time, James Madison holds a 5-0 lead over the Phoenix. Last season, JMU barely edged Elon in both matchups, beating the Phoenix 81-76 in overtime on Jan. 10 at Alumni Gym before falling 73-72 on the road Feb. 28 in Harrisonburg, Va.
ABOUT JMU
Winning six of its last seven after opening the season 5-4, JMU owns an 11-5 mark with a 4-1 record in CAA play. The Dukes only CAA loss to date came Jan. 8 on the road at Towson, 54-51. Common nonconference opponents included Rutgers and Wake Forest. Both teams topped Rutgers with JMU needing double overtime in New Jersey to defeat the Scarlet Knights 82-76. Elon fell 78-68 to Wake Forest on Nov. 26 and JMU defeated the Demon Deacons 83-76 on New Year’s Eve.
LOOKING BACK
Head coach Charlotte Smith notched her 100th-career win Sunday with Elon’s 75-65 home win over Drexel in front of the third-largest home crowd in program history. Lauren Brown’s 19 points led Elon’s attack. She was helped by 13 points from Jenifer Rhodes and 11 points from Maddie McCallie. Shay Burnett missed the program’s first triple-double by one rebound and one assist, finishing with 10 points, nine boards and nine assists. Elon completed the season sweep of Drexel after dropping each of the previous four meetings.
ON A ROLL
Elon has now won nine games in a row, the most consecutive victories in a row as a Division I program. Last time Elon won nine-straight came as part of a 12-game winning streak during the 1981-82 season under coach Mary Jackson. That 12-game streak marks the program’s third-longest winning streak of all time.
CLIMBING HIGH
Elon checked in this week as the top mid-major in the NCAA RPI at No. 22. The Phoenix also climbed to No. 6 in the espnW Mid-Major poll and to No. 16 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll.
MILESTONE WATCH
Senior guard Lauren Brown has accumulated 986 career points heading into Friday. Now within striking distance, Brown is looking to become the 21st member of the 1,000-point club. She would be the most recent to accomplish the feat since Kelsey Harris reached 1,000-career points in February 2014. Not far behind Brown is senior forward Jenifer Rhodes with 917 career points and junior guard Shay Burnett at 918 career points.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Phoenix will take on William & Mary on Sunday, Jan. 22, on the road. The Tribe is third in the CAA to date with a 3-1 conference mark and 13-2 overall. William & Mary is at Towson Friday night before welcoming Elon on Sunday at 2 p.m.