ELON, N.C. – Elon University women's basketball takes on the Western Carolina Catamounts in its season opener on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Schar Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
The price of admission starts at $10. Tickets to the game are included in purchases of season ticket packages. To purchase season tickets for the 2019-20 season, click here.
 
COVERAGE
Fans can listen to the game free on WSOE 89.3 FM. The game will be streamed on FloSports, while live stats are provided here.
 
THE MATCHUP
-This will be the 41st time that Elon and Western Carolina play each other. The Phoenix leads the overall series 22-18.
-Elon last faced WCU in Cullowhee on Feb. 15, 2014. The Phoenix defeated the Catamounts 65-61.
 
ABOUT ELON
-Elon is led by ninth year head coach Charlotte Smith, who led the Phoenix to two consecutive CAA Championship titles in 2017 and 2018.
-On Tuesday night, the Phoenix hosted Winston-Salem State in an exhibition. Elon went on to defeat the Rams 77-48.
- The Phoenix was led by freshman Maya Johnson, who finished with a team-high 14 points. Ariel Colón and Brie Perpignan also combined for 23 points and nine rebounds.  
- The Phoenix brings back three of its top five scorers from last season in Perpignan (267 pts., 8.9 PPG), Colón (218 pts., 7.3 PPG), and Jaylin Powell (209 pts., 7.5 PPG). 
- Redshirt junior Jada Graves is set to return to competition for the Phoenix. The 2017-18 CAA Defensive Player of the Year suffered a season-ending injury on Nov. 6, 2018 when Elon faced UNC in Schar Center.
- Elon welcomes three freshmen to the roster in Teylah Saunders, Maya Johnson, and Vanessa Taylor. Junior Peyton Carter also joins the roster after spending two seasons at the University of Colorado.
- The CAA announced in its preseason poll that the Phoenix was picked eighth, earning 28 points. James Madison was named the favorite, totaling 81 points and nine first-place votes.  
 
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2019-20
- Following the game, Elon will host Appalachian State on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The Phoenix will then have two road contests against Marist (Nov. 17) and UNC (Nov. 22) before returning home to face Wake Forest on Nov. 25.
- The Phoenix will be on the road for a majority of the holiday season. After the game against Wake Forest, Elon will have eight consecutive road games against UNLV, St.John's/IUPUI, NC State, Newberry, Coastal Carolina, Furman, Towson, and James Madison.
- Elon opens CAA play with a road contest at Towson on Jan. 3.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA
- WCU snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 64-55 win over UVA-Wise in the team's season opener this past Tuesday.
-The Catamounts had four players score in double figures as head coach Kiley Hill earned his first victory at the helm of the program.
-Jewel Smalls notched a double-double with 13 points and 15 boards. Judith Martin Ruiz led all scorers with 18 points and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe. Jada Miller and Tembre Moates contributed 10 points apiece.
-WCU followed with a 92-55 loss at UNC on Thursday night. Smalls led the team with 23 points and 10 rebounds, Lauren LaPlant sunk three treys to finish with nine points, and Martin Ruiz added eight points, five rebounds, and five assists.
-The Catamounts were picked to finish eighth in the SoCon preseason poll. The team returns seven players with four newcomers.
 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix continues its season on Wednesday, Nov. 13 when the team takes on Appalachian State at home. That matchup will be streamed on FloSports and broadcast on 89.3 WSOE. Elon will then have its first road contest of the season in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. against Marist. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17.