ELON, N.C. – Kitara McMoore pounded out 18 points and seven rebounds in just 18 minutes of action as Elon turned back Guilford 83-32 in a women’s basketball game Sunday afternoon at Alumni Gym. McMoore knocked down eight of her 12 shots from the floor.
The Phoenix (2-0) reeled off the game’s first 18 points – eight by McMoore – in the first 5:52 before a lay-up by Shevon Hackett put the Quakers (0-1) on the scoreboard with 13:15 to play in the opening period.
Elon scored 28 of the first half’s final 44 points to fashion an eventual 46-18 halftime cushion on a bucket by Katie Whidden with seven seconds left before the break.
Robyn Shipley sank a basket just 16 ticks into the second stanza, stretching the Phoenix lead to 30 points. Elon never looked back, rolling to its first 2-0 start since beginning the 1997-98 season at 4-0.
The Phoenix finished the contest with advantages in points in the paint (44-10), points off turnovers (19-2), second chance points (24-7), fast break points (12-0), bench points (35-8), field goal percentage (48.4-17.5), three-point field goal percentage (36.8-11.5), free throw percentage (76.2-64.3), rebounds (56-30), assists (19-4), turnovers (15-18), blocked shots (7-1) and steals (10-5).
Elon’s Nikko King blocked a career-best five shots for the second time in as many games. Nicole Allison (career-high 12 points), Tierra Bumbrey (five assists, career-high five steals) and Alexa Schafranek (nine points, nine rebounds) also turned in key performances for the Phoenix.
The 83 points marked the most by Elon since an 84-68 triumph over East Tennessee State in the first round of the Southern Conference tournament on March 4, 2004. The 32 points were the least allowed by a Phoenix team since a 96-16 victory against Peace at Alumni Gym on Jan. 4, 2001.
Jennifer King (game-high 20 points) and Hackett (game-high 10 rebounds) led the Quakers, who return to action at 6 p.m. Tuesday when they host Greensboro. Elon will now head out to Cincinnati, Ohio, to compete in the National City Bank Invitational next weekend, playing host Xavier at 1 p.m. Friday.
– ELON – Game Box Score
