Box Score
Box Score

ELON, N.C. – Despite erasing a 10-point deficit to take a one-point lead in the second half, the Elon University women’s basketball team dropped its Southern Conference home opener on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 18, as the Western Carolina Catamounts handed the Phoenix a 74-64 setback inside Alumni Gym.

Elon drops to 5-4 overall and 0-2 in league play, while WCU improves to 3-6 (1-1 SoCon) with the win.

“Today really came down to a few missed box-outs on our end and key three-pointers by Western Carolina down the stretch,” said Elon head coach Karen Barefoot. “We fought hard and played with a lot of heart today, but we needed to get to the free throw line more often.”

After going into the locker room with a three-point edge, Western Carolina started the second half with a hot hand, going on a 7-0 run to take a 39-29 lead after a Kendra Carroll layup with 16:27 remaining.  

But the Phoenix managed to claw back over the next seven minutes and eventually take a one-point lead after Ali Ford connected on a three pointer with 9:58 left to give Elon a 47-46 lead and force a WCU timeout. Ford led all scorers with a game-high 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting from the field, including five makes from long distance.

The Catamounts never trailed from that point forward, going on a 23-12 over the final stretch of the game to take a 69-59 lead with under a minute remaining. WCU would keep Elon at arm's length in the game's waning moments to secure the win.

Kelsey Evans finished with 13 points and grabbed a team-high seven boards, while Lei Lei Hairston was third Elon player in double figures, scoring 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

Lisa Archie played well of the bench for Elon, scoring eight points and tallying a career-high five blocks for the Phoenix.

Western Carolina’s Janae’ McKinney led the Catamounts with 19 points and a game-high 12 boards, while Carroll and Caitlin Hollifield scored 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Elon shot 42.4 percent from the field in the contest, while limiting the Catamounts to a 39.3 percent performance from the field. But WCU’s free throws made the difference in the game, as the Catamounts went 21-of-31 at the line compared to the Phoenix’s 6-of-10 performance.

Elon dominated the Catamounts in the paint, 32-20, but Western Carolina managed to collect 20 second chance points compared to Elon’s 12.

Elon plays its final home game of the calendar year on Monday night, Dec. 20, when the Davidson Wildcats invade Alumni Gym for a 6 p.m. conference tilt.