The Elon women’s basketball team tipped off its season hosting the ISES Cancer Awareness Tournament. The Phoenix lost the first two games of the tournament to the University of Pennsylvania and Campbell University.

The inaugural tip off tournament is held in honor of former Elon women’s basketball assistant coach Ann Lashley. Lashley passed away in November 2005 after losing her six-month battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

“Ann meant a great deal to a lot of people here,” coach Brenda Paul said. “We wanted to do this for her.”

Five teams including Elon participated in the tournament: College of William and Mary, Campbell, UPenn, and North Carolina Central University.

Campbell head coach Wanda Watkins also knew Ann Lashley.

“We are just really proud of being part of this tournament,” Watkins said. “I knew Ann, the class she had and all she brought to the game of basketball.”

Elon fought hard in the opening games of the tournament. The Phoenix lost to Penn 56-54 Friday, on a last second jump shot in the paint by UPenn junior Carrie Biemer.

The Phoenix was down as many as 14 points in the second half, before battling its way back.

“We dug ourselves back into the game,” Paul said. “It was a tale of two halves.”

The second game of the tournament against Campbell also showed a great effort by the Phoenix. Unfortunately, it came up short losing 57-51. Campbell’s senior forward, Marlena Murphy was named the game MVP leading all scorers with 24 points and nine rebounds.

A major problem for the Phoenix was foul trouble. Elon committed its 10th foul with eight minutes and 50 seconds remaining in the game. Campbell was in the double bonus and shot two foul shots for the remainder of the game. Murphy capitalized on Elon’s mistakes by hitting 16 of 19 free throws.

“All their post players were really physical inside,” sophomore forward Urysla Cotton said. “Every time we tried to get around them, we were called for the foul, so it was really hard to play defense.”

Despite the early losses, players think that this tournament will help throughout the remainder of the season.

“If the conference teams play zone, we’ll be used to it,” senior guard Tierra Bumbrey said. “If they play man, we have our athletic guards.”

Bumbrey led the Phoenix in scoring in both games. She scored 19 points against Campbell and 14 against UPenn.

Paul knows that Bumbrey must continue her early season success for the Phoenix to do well this season.

“She’s a champion. That’s what you want, your seniors to lead,” Paul said

The Phoenix looks to continue to work hard and thinks this early season preparation will help when it begins its conference schedule on Dec. 1.

Reporter: Pam Richter - 11/14/07