Davidson Opens 2012 vs. Elon on Wednesday Night in Women's Basketball

Game Notes: #13 vs. Elon
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DAVIDSON, N.C. — Davidson, fresh off a 5-1 month of December, tips off the 2012 calendar year by hosting Elon in a Southern Conference women's basketball contest on Wednesday night at John M. Belk Arena.

The Opening Tip
Davidson (7-5, 3-0 SoCon) looks to stay perfect at home and push its home win streak overall to seven straight by hosting the Elon Phoenix (6-7, 2-2 SoCon) on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m.

The 'Cats will be seeking to remain perfect in league play as they are off to their best start since the 2008-09 squad won their first seven league games.

The All-Time Series/Last Meeting ...
... is 20 games old with Davidson leading 14-6 and winners of four of the past six meetings. The teams split the two-game series last year, with Davidson earning a 69-65 home win. In that contest, five Wildcats reached double figures in points, led by Aleksandravicius' 18.

Game Notes...
Murray Tabbed Player of Week (story)
Former Southern Conference Freshman of the Year (2010-11) Laura Murray added to her career accolades with her first career SoCon Women's Basketball Player of the Week honor as announced by the league for games from December 20-Jan. 2.

Strong Month of December
Davidson had one of its best months of December in recent years when it finished 5-1. It's the best mark since the 2006-07 squad went a perfect 6-0.

During the month, the Wildcats rattled off a five-game win streak as they won by an average of 17 points during the run. They outscored the opposition 70-56 in the month and shot better than 44 percent. The 'Cats were also very good at the charity stripe, hitting 73 percent (103-141).

Individually wise, Laura Murray and Sophia Aleksandravicius led the team in scoring at 14 and 13 points, respectively. Amanda Ottaway closed the month on fire, averaging over 16 points in the last two games. She shot 57 percent for the month and poured in nearly nine points off the bench. Point guard Barbara Sitton also filled the stat-sheet up with some impressive numbers. Besides her eight points per game average, the junior dished out 26 assists and pocketed 21 steals in six games during the month.

Win Streak Snapped at 5 Straight
Davidson saw its season-high win streak of five in a row come to an end with a tough 68-66 road defeat at Wake Forest, Dec. 31. The streak is the longest since the 2009-10 squad rattled off six straight.

During the winning ways, the Wildcats hit the 80-point mark twice and won by an average mark of 17 points. They shot 44.3 percent, while holding the opposition to just 35.1 percent. They also forced 111 turnovers (22 per game) and pocketed 60 steals (12 per game). In addition, the 'Cats went 86-for-121 from the charity stripe (.711), compared to shooting just 57.5 percent from the line prior to the win streak.

5-0 Home Start
Davidson ran its home win streak to start the season to five straight after scoring another big home win, Dec. 17. The 'Cats rolled to a 72-48 triumph over visiting Georgia Southern. The streak, which is six overall dating back to the last home game last year, is the best start at home since the 2007-08 team rattled off wins in their first five straight games.

The best start to a season was by the 1996-97 team that won its first six straight home contests. The longest home win streak overall was set by the 1998-99 team, which rattled off a nine-game streak.

Scouting the Wildcats
•Davidson saw its season-best five-game win streak come to a halt with a tough 68-66 defeat at Wake Forest to close out December. It was the only loss in the month (5-1) for the 'Cats.
•The 5-1 record in December was the best month of December they have had since going a perfect 6-0 during the 2006-07 season.
•Laura Murray (14.3 ppg) had a team and season-high 22 points at Wake Forest.
•Sophia Aleksandravicius, who reached the 1,000-point mark on Dec. 19, paces the team in scoring (14.4) and rebounding (8.2). She is third in the SoCon in scoring and rebounding.
•Amanda Ottaway came off the bench for 15 points at Wake Forest and has scored a combined 33 points in the last two games (16.5 ppg).
•Sarah Davis gave Davidson four double-figure scorers with a season-high 11 points.
•Davidson is outscoring the opposition at home, 70-52, while shooting 48 percent and holding its opponents to just 33.4 percent.
•The 'Cats are shooting 78 percent (71-91) from the charity stripe in the last four games.
•Davidson paces the SoCon in field goal percentage (.445) and assists (14.3 apg). It ranks 22nd in the nation in field goal percentage.
•Davidson as a program is closing in on 350 wins during its 33-year history, sitting at 346.
•The 'Cats, picked fifth in the SoCon preseason poll, return four starters and nine letterwinners.
•Head coach Michele Savage enters her second year at Davidson (21-22, 11-12 SoCon).

Scouting the Phoenix
•Elon is coming off an 84-36 setback at West Virginia last Saturday to close out 2011.
The Phoenix have altered a loss and win in the last five games (2-3), with all three defeats coming on the road.
•Ali Ford, a preseason all-league pick, paces the Phoenix with a 15.2 points per game average. She was held to just 13 points in both games last year vs. Davidson.
•Elon is 2-2 in the SoCon with wins vs. Samford and Wofford, while falling to Chatt. and Furman.
•Elon is third in the league in three-point shooting at 34.6 percent.
•The Phoenix are on a six-game road swing, including playing two in a tournament at Virginia.
•Elon return 12 letterwinners and was picked third in the?SoCon preseason poll after going 20-13 last year (12-8 league mark).
•Head coach Charlotte Smith is in her first year at Elon.

A Look Ahead
Davidson begins a two-game road trip with a 12 p.m. contest at Furman, Jan. 7.

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