ELON, N.C. – Looking to start out 2024 on a high note, the Elon women's basketball team (4-9) opens CAA play this weekend against Towson (7-3) and College of Charleston (8-3). Friday's game against the Tigers is set for 7 p.m. in Schar Center, while Sunday's game against the Cougars is slated for 1 p.m.
 
COVERAGE

• The game will stream live on FloHoops via a paid subscription.
• Links for the broadcast and live stats can be found on the Elon women's basketball schedule page here.
• Fans can also listen to the contest on WSOE 89.3 FM.
• Other in-game updates will be provided via the program's Twitter account, @ElonWBasketball.

TICKETS ON SALE

• Single-game tickets are now available for the 2023-24 Elon Basketball season! Don't miss the action, be there to cheer on your Phoenix! Grab your tickets today and be a part of the excitement in Schar Center.
• The Elon University Department of Athletics has many ticket options available for fans, including season tickets, single-game tickets and voucher books.
• For more information, visit ElonTickets.com or call the Elon Ticket Office at 336-278-6750.

SERIES HISTORY VS. TOWSON, CHARLESTON

• Elon leads the all-time series with Towson 9-6 but has dropped the last three meetings to the Tigers.
• The Phoenix fell most recently to the Tigers last season 70-63 on the road.
• Elon holds a 5-2 edge when hosting Towson. 
• The Phoenix leads the all-time series with College of Charleston 25-16.
• In the teams two meetings last season, Elon won the first matchup 62-49 on Feb. 5, 2023, in Charleston, S.C. before the Cougars beat the Phoenix 60-58 on Feb. 19, 2023, in Schar Center.
• The Phoenix is 13-7 in home games against Charleston.

ELON IN CAA OPENERS

• Elon is 5-4 in CAA openers since joining the conference before the 2014-15 season.
• The Phoenix has dropped its last three CAA openers, falling 75-63 to James Madison on Jan. 16, 2021, 66-54 at Towson on Jan. 7, 2022, and at North Carolina A&T 67-50 on Dec. 30, 2023.
• Since winning its first four CAA openers, Elon is 1-4 in its last five.
• The Phoenix is looking to open CAA play with a win for the first time since the 2019-20 season, when it defeated Towson 74-61. Saadia Munford led three double-digit scorers with 20 points.
• Elon hasn't started 2-0 in CAA play since accomplishing the feat in back-to-back seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17. 

LAST TIME OUT

• Maraja Pass was one point shy of her career-high in points with 20, her sixth consecutive game in double figures while flirting with another double-double leading the team with eight assists. The freshman guard was recognized as the CAA Rookie of the Week for the third time this season for her performance.
• Iycez Adams continued to pace the team on the glass grabbing seven boards while adding two blocks and 13 points shooting 6-for-10 from the floor.
• Regina Walton hit double figures for the first time in her career scoring 11 points going 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.
• Maya Johnson matched her season-high in points with eight while Diamond Monroe and Vanessa Taylor each added six points off the bench for the Phoenix.
• Jessica Booth along with Adams and Pass shared the team-lead in steals with two each.
• Elon's 70.4% field-goal percentage in the first half is a season-high and best percentage in a half since the team shot 70.3% (19-for-27) in the second half against College of Charleston on Feb. 9, 2020.
• The Phoenix outnumbered High Point in steals (10-6) and defensive rebounds (23-18) while forcing 19 turnovers.
• Elon shot a season-high 62.5% (5-for-8) from downtown while shooting its second highest percentage of the season from the floor going 28-for-52 (53.8%). 

A KEY PASS

• After a stellar performance at High Point, reaching 20-plus points for the second time this season, Maraja Pass was named CAA Rookie of the Week for the third time.
• Having also received the award on Nov. 27 and Dec. 11, Pass is the only league freshmen to earn the honor three times this season and first Phoenix freshman to be recognized three times since Raven Preston last season.
• Pass' all-around game was on display at High Point as she tallied a team-high 20 points and matched her career-best eight assists while grabbing six rebounds with two steals. Pass went 6-for-10 from the floor and 8-for-13 from the free-throw line, with eight made free-throws being the most in her career.
• With 10 points against Mount Olive, Pass recorded double figures for the sixth time in this season while also tallying seven assists, six rebounds and two steals.
• Pass flirted with a triple double having a career-high night with 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists against Marshall. The eight assists were the most by an Elon freshman since Raven Preston tallied eight against William & Mary last season.
• Pass led the Phoenix with 12 points shooting 55.6% (5-for-9) from the floor and four assists on the road against Furman.
• Pass netted 16 points going 5-of-13 from the floor and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line to pace the Phoenix in a narrow road setback to UNCG, earning her second CAA Rookie of the Week honor on Dec. 11.
• Pass made her first career start on Dec. 2, 2023, against Wingate where she added 10 points, six boards and two assists.
• The Phoenix bounced back the next day with a 75-68 win over Georgia State, as the freshman contributed eight points, five boards, four assists and one steal.
• Pass' seven assists and zero turnovers in the matchups against Bradley were a first since Brie Perpignan on February 23, 2022, in Elon's win versus UNCW.
• Pass opened the tournament with eight points, four rebounds and a season-best seven assists with no turnovers in 26 minutes off the bench against Bradley.
• Pass would go on to receive her first CAA Rookie of the Week honor on Nov. 27, 2023, following her performance at the Georgia State Thanksgiving Tournament.
• With eight points in the team's loss at North Carolina, Pass led the team in points for the third consecutive game and matched her career-high in steals with two.
• In the team's 90-69 victory at Gardner-Webb, Pass put on a show for her city, leading the Phoenix with 16 points going 6-for-7 from the floor and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line.
• In the season's home opener, Pass made her Elon debut playing 20-plus minutes and recording a team-high four assists.
• Entering Friday, Pass ranked third in the CAA in total assists (56) and fifth in assists per game with 4.3.
• In the team's 13 games, Pass is averaging 10.9 points on 47.3% shooting (53-for-112), 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals.

EDUCATION DAY RETURNS

• The Elon women's basketball team will welcome local elementary school students to campus again this season for a fun-filled Education Day matinee.
• The game this year will be against Northeastern on Feb. 2, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in Schar Center. This marks the second time that Elon held an Education Day since Jan. 27, 2011.
• Last year the program welcomed more than 2,400 elementary school students from 10 Alamance-Burlington School System schools as well as Burlington Christian Academy and The Burlington School. Overall, 3,087 fans attended the game, marking the largest crowd in Elon's Division I era. This was also the largest crowd recorded by the conference last season which helped Elon land second in total attendance with 25,859.

SCOUTING TOWSON

• Towson is 7-3 entering Friday's matchup, coming off an 83-76 setback against George Mason on Dec. 22. The Tigers hold a 2-2 record on the road winning at Liberty and American. Their other losses have come against Columbia and Maryland.
• Towson went 21-12 overall and 13-5 in CAA play last season, finishing first in the conference.
• The Tigers were picked to finish first in the CAA Preseason Poll, with redshirt senior guard Kylie Kornegay-Lucas named CAA Preseason Player of the Year.
• Kornegay-Lucas leads the team across the board scoring 13.5 points per game and grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the league. She also ranks fourth in the CAA in steals per game (2.4) and tied for fifth in assists per game (4.3).
• Patricia Anumgba and Quinzia Fulmore also average double-figure points at 13.3 and 10.5, respectively.
• The Tigers are led by head coach Laura Harper who is in her second season.

SCOUTING CHARLESTON

• Charleston enters the weekend 8-3 coming off back-to-back wins over South Carolina State and Radford. The Cougars open their CAA slate at North Carolina A&T on Friday, Jan. 5 before coming to Elon.
• The Cougars went 11-18 overall and 6-12 in league play last season, finishing tenth in the CAA.
• Charleston was picked to finish fifth in the CAA Preseason Poll, earning one first place vote.
• Fifth-year guard Jada Logan was named to the Preseason All-CAA First Team and is averaging 13.3 points per game and 6.3 boards per game so far this season.
• Jenna Annecchiarico leads the team and ranks second in the league in scoring with 15.9 points per game. She leads the league in assists (75) and assists per game (7.5) while ranking third in steals per game with 2.9.
• Alexis Andrews and Taryn Barbot are also averaging double-figure points at 15.4 and 14.2 which are also within the top-10 in the league.
• Barbot, a freshman guard leads the team and CAA in steals (36) and steals per game (3.3). She was named CAA Rookie of the Week back-to-back weeks this season on Dec. 18 and Dec. 26.
• Robin Harmony is at the helm of the Charleston program in her fifth season.

UP NEXT

• Elon will hit the road to take on CAA newcomer Campbell on Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. before hosting William & Mary on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m.