Box Score

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s basketball team opened the 2011-12 season with a 73-67 exhibition victory over the Wingate Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 6, inside Alumni Gym.
 
“We’ll definitely learn a lot from this game when we watch film, but give credit to Wingate for battling for all 40 minutes today. They’re a talented team and they were predicted to win their conference for a reason,” said Elon head women’s basketball coach Charlotte Smith. “Wingate did a good job of pressing us today. Moving forward this season, our point guards need to do a better job of initiating and being more aggressive.
 
Kelsey Harris ignited a good run for us at the end of the game with her defense and really helped us get the win today. We’re going to get a lot of opportunities off our defense and that’s the one thing we can control night in and night out.”
 
Trailing by one point, 59-58, with just under seven minutes to play, Harris came up with a steal near half court and took it in for the transition layup to give Elon a 60-59 advantage. The play helped spark an 8-0 run for the Phoenix to make it a 67-59 game with 5:20 remaining, forcing a Wingate timeout.
 
The Bulldogs pulled within three points with 4:15 to play on a pair of free throws by Simone Rutledge, but the Phoenix managed to keep Wingate at arm’s length down the stretch to secure the win.
 
Harris finished the day with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field to go along with eight boards and four steals, while junior Ali Ford finished with 12 points and a game-high five steals. Ford knocked down a game-high four three pointers for the Phoenix.
 
Junior Kelsey Evans led the Phoenix with 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field to go along with nine boards, one block and three steals.
 
Rookie Sam Coffer had an impressive debut for Elon, totaling 11 points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench.
 
Elon dominated the boards 42-27 in the victory and shot 54 percent from the field, while holding Wingate to 39 percent shooting.
 
The Bulldogs hit 16-of-24 free throws in the game, while Elon knocked down 7-of-18 shots from the charity stripe.
 
Wingate’s Nikki Burton led all players with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
 
Elon returns to the hardwood on Saturday, Nov. 12, when the Phoenix welcomes Virginia Union to Alumni Gym for its home opener. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.