By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Western Alamance graduate Allie Sykes had a strong return to her hometown, though not enough for her Presbyterian women’s basketball team.
Sykes, a freshman guard for the Blue Hose, scored 13 points in 27 minutes off the bench in Monday’s 93-48 loss to Elon.
Tamia Watkins scored 15 points as Elon won its home opener in front of an Education Day crowd of 3,224 at Schar Center.
The Phoenix (2-1) shot 65 percent (37-for-57) from the field for its best rate under coach Charlotte Smith, who has been in her position since 2011. LaNaé Corbett and Quinzia Fulmore both scored 14 points.
Sykes made three 3-pointers for the Blue Hose (1-2).
A week earlier, Sykes posted 17 points with five 3s in her collegiate debut as the Presbyterian defeated visiting Warren Wilson 113-45.
Monday marked Elon’s first game without Jayda Angel, who suffered an injured right knee in a non-contact situation in last Thursday’s 71-37 loss at No. 11 North Carolina. Angel was carried off the court in the second quarter.
“Just the emotional toll of losing Jayda – that’s our (preseason all-conference) selection that went down,” Smith said.
Elon meets visiting Howard at 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
Men’s basketball
Kacper Klaczek’s 3-pointer tied the game with four seconds left in regulation and Elon went on to a 92-90 overtime victory against UNC Greensboro on Saturday.
Klaczek finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds at newly-named Bodford Arena (formerly Fleming Gym) on the UNCG campus. Teammate Chandler Cuthrell, playing at a venue that helped his father, Eric Cuthrell, gain UNCG Hall of Fame status, racked up 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Phoenix (2-0).
Isaac Harrell added 11 points and reserve Ned Hull had eight points in 10 minutes. Before Klaczek’s tying 3, the Spartans had led for all except 27 seconds of the final 13½ minutes of the second half.
Bryson Cokley’s dunk gave Elon a 90-88 lead and he snapped a tie again with two free throws at the 27-second mark. UNCG (0-2) went 0-for-6 from the field in overtime.
Elon has a game Wednesday night at Marshall. The Phoenix is home at 8:00 p.m. Saturday vs. Gardner-Webb.
