Box Score
Box Score

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – A 15-0 run in the second half from top-seeded Appalachian State proved to be too much for the Elon women’s basketball team to overcome on Sunday afternoon, March 6, in the semifinals of the 2011 Southern Conference Tournament, as the Mountaineers handed the Phoenix a 72-48 setback inside McKenzie Arena.

Elon moves to 19-12 with the loss, while ASU improves to 25-5 with the win and advances to the tournament championship tomorrow at 4 p.m. to face second-seeded Samford or third-seeded Chattanooga.

With 19 wins this season, which ties the most in a single season since joining the Division I ranks, Elon will await word of a bid to one of women's basketball's postseason tournaments.

“In the first half we did a great job defensively and we rebounded the ball well, got some good looks and shot the ball well,” said Elon head coach Karen Barefoot. “In the second half, we didn’t shoot the ball well and had some defensive breakdowns. We had opportunities and we almost shot the same as them and had as many rebounds on the stat sheet. But it came down to them making big plays.

I am proud of this team's heart and determination and what they've been able to accomplish all year long. Our seniors have left a lasting mark on this program and I am extremely happy for them.”

Despite going into the locker room at intermission down only two points, the Phoenix could not find a rhythm in the second half and allowed the Mountaineers to capitalize with a 15-0 run to take a commanding double-digit lead for most of the final 20 minutes.

ASU held Elon to 26.7 percent (8-of-30) shooting in the second half, including a 0-of-7 mark from beyond the arc.

Kelsey Evans led the Phoenix with her league-best 10th double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 boards, while also recording four blocked shots. In two games, Elon blocked a total of 20 shots by the opposition, a SoCon Tournament record.

Aiesha Harper was the only other player in double figures for Elon, as she finished with 10 points on 5-of-15 shooting.

The Mountaineers forced an Elon timeout with 12:33 remaining in the first half after a Courtney Freeman layup made it a two-point game, 14-12.

The two squads jockeyed for position for the remainder of the opening frame, as ASU went into the locker room holding a slight two-point edge, 29-27, at intermission.

Elon knocked down 31.4 percent (11-of-35) of its shots in the first half, including a 2-of-7 clip from beyond the arc. The Mountaineers shot 41.4 percent (12-of-29) in the first 20 minutes, also connecting on just two three-pointers. Both squads registered 12 points in the paint, but Appalachian State’s reserves out-performed its counterparts 10-2 in the first half, led by Freeman’s 10 first-half points.

Appalachian State’s Ashlen Dewart gave ASU an eight-point lead with under 18 minutes to play in the second half after knocking down a jumper from the free throw line to put Elon behind, 37-29, forcing Barefoot to call for a 30-second timeout.

But the Phoenix battled back to pull within four and force an ASU timeout after an Evans jumper from the top of the key made it a 39-35 game with under 16 minutes to play. It would be short-lived, however, as back-to-back triples from Anna Freeman and Sam Ramirez gave the Mountaineers a 10-point lead, 45-35, inside the 15-minute mark.

The Mountaineers went up by as many as 19 points during a 15-0 run, until a pair of Evans makes from the charity stripe with 10:09 on the clock made it a 54-37 game. Appalachian State held Elon without a field goal for nearly seven minutes, until Lisa Archie worked her way inside for a layup with 9:01 left.  

After reaching the 1,000-point milestone yesterday against Furman and scoring eight first-half points, Ali Ford went scoreless in the second half after a combined effort from the Mountaineers’ backcourt held the league’s second-leading scorer in check. Ford finished the game 3-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-6 from three-point land.

ASU put five players in double figures, with Dewart leading the way with 19 points, even after the Phoenix held Dewart to just three first-half points. Kelsey Sharkey led the Mountaineers with a game-high 16 boards to go along with 12 points and seven assists.