Game Notes | @GoCamelsWBB
BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After claiming the UNF Holiday Classic on Dec. 14-15, the Campbell women's basketball team returns to Gore Arena/John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center on Thursday night to host Elon at 7 p.m. for the final home contest of 2012.
During the holidays, admission to home events through Jan. 5th is $5 for adults and free for children/students under 18 years old. Fans that are away from the Creek can follow with subscription-based video and live stats through links on the women's basketball schedule page of GoCamels.com.
The Lady Camels are off to their best start since the 1990-91 campaign at 8-2, which is tied for the third fastest start in the Division I era that dates back to the start of the 1986 season. The DI record is held by the 1987-88 squad that began 11-2.
In its last action, Campbell topped Maryland-Eastern Shore, 77-72, and Jacksonville State, 66-53, as sophomore forward Kiera Gaines (Mechanicsville, Va.) and senior guard Tonisha Baker (High Point, N.C.) were named all-tournament following 20-point performances.
"It was two days of really hard-fought basketball for our team," said head coach Wanda Watkins. "I felt that in both games we were able to build good leads, but playing against scrappy teams, who came back at us really hard. Fortunately after building those leads, we were able to sustain them."
Gaines became the first 20-point scorer on the season, by going 6-of-8 from the field and nailing all eight of her free throw attempts vs. UMES. The following day she came one steal short of the school record of 10 against Jacksonville St., while Baker contributed season-bests in points with 22 and rebounds with nine.
Baker was named Co-Big South Player of the Week on Dec. 17 for averaging 19.5 points and eight rebounds during the tournament. She was the second Lady Camel to take a weekly honor as Lovette grabbed freshman of the week honors on Nov. 19.
The season has been a team-effort for the Lady Camels as all five starters have averaged seven points or more, while the bench has provided solid secondary scoring. The team ranks atop the Big South in scoring margin (+13.7), field goal pct. (43.2), assists (16.3), steals (12.0) and assists/turnover ratio (0.8).
"I am proud of the momentum that we built in our schedule and with our success that we have experience so far, but it is a day-by-day process," said coach Watkins. "I tell the team that you are never as good as you think you are when you win and you are never as bad as you think you are when you lose. You have to keep an even keel all the time and approach every game with the same kind of mentality."
Campbell falls inside the top-75 nationally in 11 categories, including 10th in 3-point field goal pct. at 38.9.
In the all-time series against Elon, the Lady Camels have a 17-9 advantage. After the Phoenix won the first four meeting, the Lady Camels took 16 of the next 18 matchups from 1977 to 2000, including 14 wins in a row. Elon has taken three of the past for meetings, including last year's thrilling 89-88 win at Alumni Gym.
Elon enters the mid-week matchup at 4-4 on the campaign and 1-1 in the Southern Conference. The Phoenix have topped VCU (74-58), UNCW (67-61), Western Carolina (64-48) and Morgan St. (74-54, while falling to South Carolina (22-77), America (68-69), College of Charleston (55-57) and N.C. State (73-88).
Leading the Phoenix is Ali Ford with 17.0 points and 4.5 assists per game. Nearing an average of a double-double per contest is Kelsey Evans down low with 12.6 points and 9.5 rebounds.
As a team, Elon has averaged 64.8 points per game, compiled a .414 pct. from the field and .344 rate beyond the arc. With a -1.2 rebounding margin, the Phoenix have pulled down 40.6 boards per game. Head coach Charlotte Smith is in her second season guiding the Elon program.
The Lady Camels wraps up 2012 on Dec. 29 with their first contest against an ACC-foe since 2000 (Duke), when Campbell travels to Wake Forest for a 2 p.m. tip.
