The conclusion of winter break and the start of a new year mean one thing in college basketball: conference play is on the horizon.
Although the Elon University women’s basketball team (4-7, 1-1 SoCon) has played two games in the Southern Conference thus far, the team has finished non-conference action and will play 18 straight conference games in the last two-thirds of the regular season.
The Phoenix will enter the grind of SoCon play on a sour note, however. The maroon and gold has dropped four of its five non-conference games between SoCon games. On December 9 at NC State, Elon made the game as close as eight points in the second half but faltered 88-73. After a home triumph against Morgan State, the Phoenix lost three road contests against Campbell, East Carolina, and North Carolina A&T.
There have been some individual positives to take away from the losses, however. Senior forward Kelsey Evans needs only 10 blocks to tie the Elon career record of 187. Evans already has 25 rejections thus far in 2012-13. Her teammate, senior guard Ali Ford, who like Evans has played over 100 games for the Phoenix, needs only 22 three-pointers to set the Southern Conference record. Ford has already drained 30 treys this season for Elon.
The next three days bring the conference’s two western-most teams to Alumni Gym. The Samford University Bulldogs will visit the Phoenix on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., then Elon turns around to entertain the Lady Mocs of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Monday at 7 p.m.
Samford will make the trek from Birmingham carrying a record of 5-6, 2-0 SoCon, a mark weighed down by some strong opponents such as Florida State, Oregon, Auburn, and Clemson. The Bulldogs use the three-pointer as their primary weapon, as all 11 players on Samford’s active roster have drained a three ball this season. Samford is led by Shelby Campbell, a junior guard who is averaging 9.3 points per game this year. Jazmine Martin, another guard, is averaging 8.2 points per game, and has 14 three-pointers on the year. Samford is a young team with five freshman who all see the floor for extended playing time. If Elon can play strong perimeter defense, the Phoenix will have success and be in contention for a return to the win column.
As much of the college sports world will turn its attention to the football showdown between Notre Dame and Alabama on Monday night, Chattanooga and Elon will do battle in Alumni Gym. The Lady Mocs carry an overall record of 9-2, 2-0 in the conference to their weekend Triad road trip that also includes a stop at UNC-Greensboro. Ashlen Dewart, an Appalachian State transfer, is averaging 16.1 points per game out of the forward position for Chattanooga. This factor means the Phoenix will have to deal with two separate offensive styles in two games. A major key for Monday will be Kelsey Evans’ ability to stay out of foul trouble and guard Dewart.
Overall, this weekend is key for Elon to pick up at least one win and get the majority of the conference season off on the right foot.