Elon fans got an early look at the women's basketball team Sunday at the Phoenix hoops preview. The team's first game takes place Nov. 12 at home against Virginia Union University and the players think they are ready.
"Our first home game is really exciting," junior forward Lei Lei Hairston said. "We're ready to hit the courts and run, basically. Literally."
First year head coach Charlotte Smith agrees.
"I'm just looking forward to the first game and getting that monkey off the back," she said. "I'm just like the girls, I'm excited about this team and what we can do. I think we can definitely compete for a Southern Conference championship."
That is the No. 1 goal for the whole team. The Phoenix reached the semifinals of the SoCon tournament last year, but this year the team is determined to succeed.
"We're ready to win it," Hairston said. "For this entire season, (our goal) is, number one, win the championship."
But to get there, the team needs to constantly focus and work, something freshman guard/forward Sam Coffer is getting used to.
"It's definitely like a whole different level," she said. "Everyone is good. There are no weak links so every day you have to bring it."
But there are always things to work on and the players are fine-tuning as the season approaches.
"Some things that we need to work on are little nuances in terms of the offensive timing, angles and screens and taking care of the ball," Smith said. "The only way you can score is with the basketball, so you have to value it and not throw the ball away."
Each player has personal goals to work on as well. For Hairston, it's to become a leader. "My goals are to be that motivator on the team, to be a voice, to be the encourager and also help my teammates out in any way I can," she said.
Coffer wants to play and gain experience on the college level.
"I just want to, after every game, say that I gave all my effort," she said. "Just to give my best."
This is Smith's first year as head coach at Elon. The former University of North Carolina standout was a four-year letterwinner from 1992-1995 and led UNC to the 1994 National Championship. She was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player that year and is one of only two UNC women's basketball players to have her jersey retired. Smith then played in the WNBA from 1999-2006.
She also acted as assistant coach at UNC from 2002-2011.
"I've been involved in the Carolina program for almost two decades, so it was definitely hard to leave the people that are like my family," she said. "But you know, I said that if I ever leave Carolina, it would have to be a very special place. And I've found a very special place here in Elon and it's home for me."
Smith said she admires her new players and their work ethic.
"They are competitive, they're warriors and they're relentless," she said. "The effort is always there and they want to win and they're very competitive, so I'm very excited for this season." They feel the same way about her.
"She's awesome. She fits in perfectly with us," Hairston said. "We all get along well. She is a great teacher and she's a great person, not only a great coach"