On a cold, dreary afternoon outside Alumni Gym, smiles shined bright inside both before and after the Elon University women’s basketball team's 72-56 home season finale and senior day win against the Davidson College Wildcats.
“A great team effort and just excited to get the win,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith.
Prior to the game, Elon's five seniors, Ali Ford, Kesley Evans, Shon Redmond, Lei Lei Hariston and Arayael Brander, were honored for their time sporting the maroon and gold. Ali Ford had a game-high 23 points for the Phoenix on 9-19 shooting, 21 of which came in the first half. She departs Elon as the Southern Conference's all-time leading three-point shooter.
“I have to give kudos to Ali for carrying us in the first half until the second half,” Smith said.
Evans finished with 12 point, all of which came in the second half while junior guard Kelsey Harris added 12 points and 5 rebounds of her own. Zora Stevenson hit four three-pointers off the bench that accounted for all of her 12 points.
“Zora came in off the bench and was on fire, Smith said. "She did what she does.”
As a team, Elon shot 45 percent from the field and 43 percent from behind the arc.
For Davidson, senior forward Sophia Aleksandravicius quietly had a double-double in picking up 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Junior guard Laura Murray led the Wildcats in scoring with 14 points on 5-12 shooting. Davidson shot a cool 34 percent from the field and just 13 percent from three-point land.
Elon fell behind early, as Davidson got off to a quick 5-0 run to start the game, but the Phoenix were able to tie the game at 11 with 12:49 remaining in the first half. The two teams exchanged baskets for the next few minutes, until Ali Ford took over the game.
Playing in her final game in Alumni Gym, Ford scored 10 straight points for Elon and grabbed a 34-30 lead going into halftime.
“I think it was the emotions from wanting to play hard and start the game strong,” Ford said.
The second half started off very slow with the first points not coming until a Murray free throw coming out of the first media timeout. Elon then went on a 14-5 run that was capped by a Stevenson three to take a 48-36 lead.
Elon kept the pedal to the floor and with back-to-back Stevenson treys, Elon took a 20 point lead at 62-42 with 7:39 remaining in the game that got even Smith fist pumping on the sideline.
"That's the closest I'll ever be to feeling like a player again," Smith said.
With 1:13 remaining in the game, and the Phoenix maintaining a comfortable 72-52 lead, the three dressed seniors departed the floor for the final time to a standing ovation.
“I’m just so proud of the way everyone fought today,” said Kelsey Evans fighting back tears.
With the win, Elon improves to 16-12 on the season and 13-6 in the Southern Conference. The loss drops Davidson to 18-11 on the year and 15-4 in conference play.
Elon has one regular season game left as they travel to take on Georgia Southern University on Monday, March 4th. After that, the Phoenix will head to Asheville for the Southern Conference Tournament starting Friday, March 8th.