HPU Panthers vs. Elon Phoenix: a preview of the women's basketball game

With the new year approaching, both Elon University and

High Point University are looking to go into 2024 on a positive note,

and that starts with getting into the win column tonight. This is the

last non-conference game for both schools, so this is a huge game for

both programs as they try to gain momentum before each head into

conference play.

 

After a few days off for the holiday break, the two universities that are

separated by 29 miles are looking to battle it out in the Qubein Center

at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN Plus.

 

The Elon Phoenix with a record of 3-9 have struggled thus far this season, losing five out of their last six games. Elon is coming off a win against the University of Mount Olive, 65-39, and are looking to extend their win streak to two games before heading into conference play Jan. 5 against Towson University.

 

Elon is led by the sensational 5’4” freshman guard out of Shelby, N.C., Maraja Pass, who is currently leading the team in points at 10.2 a game, assists at four a game, and steals at 1.2 a game. The guard is also shooting the ball at an exceptional 46.1 percent from the court. Pass has been a huge factor for the Phoenix on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court, and the team will need her to step it up tonight in the Qubein Center. 

 

Elon will also need 6’0” junior forward from right down the road in Greensboro, Iycez Adams, to be a huge contributor tonight. Adams leads the team in rebounds at 6.5 a game, blocks at 1.5 a game, and is second on the team in points at 9.5 a game. Her size allows her to be a force down low in the post, and that was shown in the team’s last outing against Mount Olive in which Adams recorded team-highs with 13 points and eight rebounds.

 

For the High Point Panthers that currently stand with a record of 5-7, they started the year off on a hot-streak, winning four of their first five games, but have since lost three out of their last four. The Panthers are coming off a nail-biting win in their last outing against Campbell University, 48-47. As the Panthers near conference play, which starts Jan. 3 against Radford University, High Point University is looking to continue their winning streak at home against the Phoenix.

 

The Panthers will need to shoot the ball much better than they did against Campbell in a game that the team combined for 34.5% from the court overall and one made three-pointer out of 21 attempts.

 

Leading the way for the Panthers is the Gardner-Webb University transfer and 5’5” guard Lauren Bevis. The graduate student in her first season as a Panther has been a huge contributing factor as she leads the team and is second in the Big South Conference in points at 15.2 a game. Bevis is recently coming off a season-high 29 points against Norfolk State two weeks ago but is looking to bounce back after a poor shooting performance in her last outing against Campbell she recorded five points on 1-8 shooting from the court overall, and 1-4 from the three-point line. Bevis averages 16.7 points in the Qubein Center. Head Coach Chelsea Banbury and the Panthers will need her to put up similar numbers against the Phoenix.

 

The Panthers have also gotten huge production this season from 5’6” junior guard Nakyah Terrell. The Ohio native leads the team in rebounds at 4.1 a game, assists at 3.2 a game, and is second on the team in points at 8.4 a game. Just like Bevis, Terrell will need a bounce-back after she recorded just one point on 0-4 shooting from the court in her last outing against Campbell. 

 

Both universities are looking to head into the new year on a winning streak after each have had their struggles this season. The Panthers have only lost one game this season in the Qubein Center and will look to continue their home-court success against Elon at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.