ASHEVILLE – “Box out!”
That’s what Elon University women’s basketball head coach Charlotte Smith screamed multiple times through the course of the first eight minutes of the game when the Samford University Bulldogs were coming up with offensive rebound after offensive rebound. The Phoenix clamped down, though, to take a 70-60 win against the Bulldogs to advance to the semifinals of the Southern Conference tournament.
“We did a good job of boxing out in the end,” Smith said. “We had some defensive lapses but we’re just happy to come out with the win.”
Leading early on by just a point, the Phoenix went on a mini 6-0 run started by sophomore Shannen Cochraham off the bench to give the Phoenix a 14-6. Having played yesterday, Samford was showing the affects of playing on back-to-back days and the Phoenix took advantage. Elon extended the six-point run with another 10-2 run to extend the lead well into double digits halfway through the first half.
That’s when Samford found its groove.
The Phoenix were held to 14 points through the final 10 minutes while Samford reeled the game back in to go to the halftime break with momentum down by just nine.
Early in the second half, the Phoenix jumped back to their double-digit lead using a highly successful full court press. Highlighted by junior guard Kelsey Harris, the Phoenix came up with multiple steals and numerous easy layups the other way to regain the momentum.
“We had a few defensive lapses early,” Smith said. “We figured it out though and we played well defensively.”
The double-digit lead held until the final five minutes of the game when Samford made one final run at the Phoenix, around the same time the men’s game ended five minutes away at the U.S. Cellular Center.
The Bulldogs pulled within six at 63-57 and seemed to have the momentum to continue the run. That’s when the Elon dance team, band members, more cheerleaders and a few students showed up at Kimmel Arena. The small crowd knocked Samford off their mark, as the six-point deficit was as close as the Bulldogs would come.
Harris came up with another steal, her fifth of the game to nearly put the final nail in the coffin on the Bulldogs season on the way to closing out the 70-60 victory.
“We overall executed our game plan,” Smith said. “Offensively, we have to get on the boards a bit harder but we got the win. I’m just happy to come out with the win.”
Senior guard Ali Ford paced the Phoenix with 17 points. She was 3-8 from three-point range. Senior forward Kelsey Evans finished with 15 points while Harris finished with 10.
Elon got contributions in a big way from the bench, as Cochraham and senior guard Shon Redmond scored six and seven points, respectively. They were the only two players in the game to score off the bench as the Phoenix outscored the Bulldogs bench 13-0.
Samford’s senior guard ended her career with a 20-point game on 5-13 shooting. Sophomore guard Reece Taylor went for 15 points while freshman guard Krista Stricklin tallied 13 points. Senior forward Hannah Dawson was the fourth player for the Bulldogs in double figures. She finished with 10 points while leading Samford with seven rebounds.
The Phoenix change venues tomorrow, Sunday March 10 when they go to the bigger U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville. The Phoenix will play the second semifinal against the No. 2 seed Davidson College.
In two matchups this season, Elon and Davidson split the series, each winning big on their home floor. Most recently, the Phoenix topped Davidson 72-56 on Senior Day in Alumni Gym.
Tip is set for 2:30 p.m., or 30 minutes after the first semifinal between top-seeded University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and No. 4 Appalachian State University. The winners of the two games will meet on Monday afternoon, March 11 for a chance to claim the Southern Conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.