Concord Aims for Seventh Straight Win over Davis & Elkins

Concord Stats – Davis & Elkins Stats – Live Video – Live Stats – Complete Game Notes
 
ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University women's basketball team sets its sights on a season sweep of Davis & Elkins at the McDonnell Center in a Mountain East Conference contest Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
The Davis & Elkins Sports Information Department will provide live video and statistics for Saturday's game.
 
LIVE VIDEO
 
LIVE STATS
 
SERIES HISTORY
Concord leads 23-9
 
LAST FIVE MEETINGS AGAINST DAVIS & ELKINS
January 13, 2024: Concord 81 – Davis & Elkins 62 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 28, 2023: Concord 69 – Davis & Elkins 59 (Elkins, W.Va.)
January 14, 2023: Concord 72 – Davis & Elkins 59 (Athens, W.Va.)
February 19, 2022: Concord 66 – Davis & Elkins 55 (Athens, W.Va.)
January 15, 2022: Concord 81 – Davis & Elkins 66 (Elkins, W.Va.)
 
CONCORD AT A GLANCE
2023-24 Record: 13-10
MEC Record: 8-7
Home Record: 8-3
Away Record: 5-6
Neutral Record: 0-1
 
TOP-TIER TAKEAWAYS
Graduate guard Nakaila Gray recorded six steals, tied for her career-high, in Wednesday's win over West Virginia Wesleyan for the second time this season. In fact, CU now owns five games in which a player has recorded six or more steals, leading the MEC. Gray's other six-steal game came in the Carter Center against Frostburg State in December. Junior guard Skylar Davidson also has two six-steal games: at home against Emory & Henry and on the road against UVa.-Wise. Senior guard Jaisah Smith took away six steals in the first meeting against Davis & Elkins on January 13. Concord has five of the league's 13 six-steal performances, followed by Glenville State with four and four teams with one player recording at least six steals.
 
PROMINENT STRETCH
Graduate forward Alexis Phillips has heated up for the Mountain Lions over her last five games played. The Pulaski, Va. native has scored in double figures in four of the last five games, including a 10-point, nine rebound outing on Senior Day vs. Salem and leading CU in scoring against WVWC with 13 points. In just 18 minutes played at Notre Dame, Phillips scored 14 points and knocked down nine free throws on 11 attempts (81.8 percent). She did not score in double figures in the road win at Bluefield State, but contributed three rebounds and two blocks defensively. The last time out against D&E, Phillips grabbed 10 rebounds and added two steals. She is tied for fifth in the conference in blocks per game (1.0) and second on the team in rebounds per game (6.1).
 
MAKING ADJUSTMENTS
After trailing 29-24 at halftime and being outscored in the first and second quarters, the Mountain Lions outscored WVWC 37-21 in the second half to win 61-50. Wednesday's comeback raised CU's second half margin over opponents to +90 on the season. More specifically, Concord is +61 in the fourth quarter through 23 games. As a result, six of the Maroon and Gray's 13 wins have come when trailing at halftime. Because it is holding teams to lower scoring totals in the third and fourth frames of games, CU is 10-0 this winter when holding the opponent under 70 points.
 
GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT
Concord's 24 offensive rebounds against West Virginia Wesleyan is the second-highest total this season and the third-highest total in the last four seasons. Six Mountain Lions grabbed at least three offensive rebounds in the game, with Phillips notching a game-high five offensive boards. Back in January, CU had 23 offensive rebounds against Davis & Elkins leading to 21 second chance points. Phillips pulled down a game-high five offensive rebounds in that game as well, with Gray and Smith having four each. Concord ranks third in the league and 12^th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (16.0). Sophomore forward Abbie Smith is second in the MEC in offensive rebounds per game (3.7) and cracks the top 25 nationally.
 
KEEP THE STREAK
Heading into Wednesday's matchup, Concord carries back-to-back victories on its shoulders, as well as a six-game win streak over Davis & Elkins dating back to the 2020-21 season. In those six games, senior guard Maddie Ratcliff is averaging 9.5 points per game, including three consecutive games scoring in double figures (2020-22). Earlier this season, Gray and A. Smith had 15 and 13 points, respectively. Davidson racked up a career-high eight assists paired with seven points and six rebounds. Last season against Davis & Elkins, graduate guard Jazz Blankenship had 17 points on a career-high five three-point buckets. In three career games against the Senators, A. Smith is averaging 12.3 points and 6.6 rebounds.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2.8 – Steals per game for Skylar Davidson and Nakaila Gray, tied for third in the MEC
12 – Lead changes in Wednesday's comeback victory over West Virginia Wesleyan
23 – Number of offensive and defensive rebounds when CU and D&E at the Carter Center in January
 
DAVIS & ELKINS AT A GLANCE
2023-24 Record: 2-19
MEC Record: 1-14
Home Record: 1-8
Away Record: 1-11
Neutral Record: 0-0
 
SCOUTING THE SENATORS
Five different players scored in double figures when the Senators played the Mountain Lions at the Carter Center, led by junior guard Taylor Smith with 13 points. Smith also leads D&E in scoring, averaging 11.7 points per game. Sophomore forward Madison Butler had 11 points, seven rebounds, and four steals in the first matchup.