Elon WBB Hosts Davidson in Mid-Week Tilt

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s basketball team hosts Davidson in a midweek tilt on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at Schar Center. The Phoenix and the Wildcats are set for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

GAME NOTES

Follow @ElonWBasketball
The game will be streamed for free on Phoenix All-Access at elonphoenix.com. Fans can also listen to the game on WSOE 89.3. Other updates of the game between the Phoenix and the Wildcats will be provided on Twitter at the handle @ElonWBasketball.

Series History (Davidson leads at 19-9)
Former longtime foes of the Southern Conference, Elon and Davidson will meet on the basketball hardwood for the 29th time on Wednesday. The Wildcats hold a 19-9 all-time advantage over the Phoenix in the series dating back to 1977. Elon has won the past two contests however including a 75-58 decision last season at Davidson.

Last Time Out
The Phoenix closed out playing its third game in five days with a 77-62 victory at Hampton on Sunday, Dec. 2. Sophomore Emily Maupin had a career day with personal-highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds against the Lady Pirates. The double-double was the first in Maupin’s career and the fourth overall of the season for the Phoenix. Fellow sophomore Ariel Colón also had 21 points – a new career-high for the Orlando, Fla., native – while going 10-of-12 from the free throw line. Lexi Mercer also scored in double figures for Elon with 12 points, who won its second straight in its series versus Hampton.

Fastbreaks
• Elon leads the CAA in scoring at 71.4 points per game in its seven games. The Phoenix is also tied for first in the league at field goal percentage at .434 percent.
• Three active players are averaging double-figures on the season for Elon. Maupin leads the team with her 13.1 PPG while Colón (12.6 PPG) and Mercer (12.5 PPG) are next.
• Three players for the Phoenix rank in the top-five of the CAA in field goal percentage with Brie Perpignan (.556 – second), Maupin (.519 – third) and Mercer (.510 – fifth).
• Colón leads the Phoenix in rebounding at 7.3 boards per contest, good for seventh in the league. She also is also fourth in the CAA in three-point percentage at .458 percent.
• Maupin is the first player to post a 20-point, 15-rebound game for Elon since Kelsey Evans at Western Carolina in 2011.
• Elon returns eight letterwinners from its team that successfully defended its Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title and made a return trip to the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
• The Phoenix closed out 2017-18 with a 25-8 record overall and a 14-4 mark during league play including a 13-game winning streak to close out the regular season and conference tournament.
• The Phoenix was tabbed to finish third in the 2018-19 CAA Preseason Poll as conducted by the league’s head coaches on Oct. 18. Elon received one first-place vote en route to 61 points for a tie for third place. James Madison (79 points) and Drexel (71 points) were selected in front of the Phoenix, who tied with Delaware for third with 61 points.
• Elon returns three starters from last year’s team including sophomore guard Saadia Munford, an CAA All-Rookie team selection in 2017-18. Munford was chosen as a Preseason All-CAA selection this season with her spot on the third team.
• Additionally, the Phoenix added five newcomers to the 2018-19 roster, which will again be one of the youngest in the nation with only two upperclassmen and no seniors.

Scouting Davidson (4-4)
The Wildcats are 4-4 on the season after a 65-57 setback at Princeton on Sunday. Prior to that contest, Davidson had won two straight with victories at home versus William & Mary and High Point. A year ago, Davidson went 12-18 overall with a 7-9 ledger in the Atlantic 10 and was tabbed to finish 11th in the A-10 2018-19 Preseason Poll.

Davidson is led offensively by sophomore guard Katie Turner, who is averaging a team-best 14.3 points per game. The Reno, Nev., native also paces the team in assists at 3.9 per game and has knocked down 17 threes. Sarah Donovan is averaging a double-double at 12.8 PPG and 10.4 boards per contest. Kianna Speight is the only other Wildcat scoring double figures at 11.6 points per game and has a team-best 22 made three-pointers.

Schar Center
After playing its home games in Alumni Gym since the start of the program in 1972, Elon moves into its new facility, Schar Center, this season. The 5,100-seat facility will provide an elite venue for Phoenix basketball and volleyball games in addition to convocations, speakers and other major campus events. The facility is named for Dwight and Martha Schar, of Palm Beach, Fla.

20-Game Winners
With 25 victories last season, Elon posted back-to-back 20-win campaigns for the first time as a Division I program. Overall, Elon has posted three 20-win seasons during the Division I era.

Up Next
The Phoenix travels to Winthrop for a road contest on Sunday, Dec. 9. That game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start time.