First-Place Elon WBB Phoenix Set to Take on Hofstra in New York

ELON, N.C. – Reaching the halfway point of the Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball season, Elon University will look to close out the first half of conference play in first place when it takes on Hofstra Sunday afternoon, Jan. 29, at 1 p.m. inside David S. Mack Sports Complex. The game can be watched on CAA.tv and heard on Phoenix All-Access.

GAME NOTES

THE SERIES
Elon and Hofstra have split the all-time series down the middle with each side winning two games apiece. Last season, Elon won the first meeting 61-60 in Alumni Gym on Jan. 8 before Hofstra took a 59-49 win in New York on Jan. 31.

ABOUT HOFSTRA
Since winning 70-61 at Towson on Jan. 13, Hofstra has lost each of its last four to Delaware, UNCW, Drexel and College of Charleston. Last time out, the Pride fell 71-55 at Charleston to fall to 8-10 on the season and 1-6 in CAA action. Ashunae Durant leads Hofstra with 15.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

LOOKING BACK
On the road for the first leg of its northern swing, Elon held off a pesky Northeastern side 76-65. The Phoenix never trailed throughout the night and was led by Shay Burnett’s 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Meme Garner provided a much-needed spark off the bench with a career-high 13 points. Jenifer Rhodes also chipped in 12 points to reach double figures for the fourth time in her last five games.

STARTING A NEW STREAK
Elon’s nine-game winning streak from Dec. 17 against ETSU to Jan. 15 against Drexel was the most the team has won in a row as a Division I program. The last time Elon had won that many in a row came during a 12-game winning streak in 1981-82 under coach Mary Jackson. Elon has now won two in a row since falling to James Madison on Jan. 20. It’s also won 11 of its last 12 games.

CLIMBING HIGH
Elon checked in as the top mid-major in the NCAA RPI at No. 23 Saturday. It’s the second week in a row Elon is the top-ranked mid-major on the list. Elon is also No. 12 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll, checking in as the highest CAA team. Last week, Elon rose to No. 6 in the espnW Mid-Major poll.

MILESTONE ACHIEVED
Senior guard Lauren Brown became the 21st player in program history to surpass the 1,000-career point mark with a three-pointer at the start of the second half in the win at William & Mary. In doing so, she became the first Phoenix to hit the number since Kelsey Harris did in February 2014.

CHASING HISTORY
Looking to follow in Brown’s footsteps, junior guard Shay Burnett has scored 965 career points and senior forward Jenifer Rhodes has scored 947 points in her four years with the Phoenix.

LOOKING AHEAD
Back home at Alumni Gym, Elon welcomes Towson for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Friday, Feb. 3. The Phoenix is 3-1 all-time against the Tigers but split the two meetings in 2015-16.