Wednesday, november 9, 2016 | page 1 @SportsENN

Wednesday, November 9, 2016 Volume 42 Edition 26 Elon, THEPENDULUM

ELECTION CENTER

Elon’s evolving role in

2016

Women’s Men’s basketball basketball preview pg. 2 preview pg. 3 preview

How Elon hosted a USA-USSR women’s basketball game during the middle of the Cold War

Susan Yow, leading Brown to reminisce on ton Times-News also has nothing about the Alex Simon the memories of Susan’s playing days under game in its archives. Likewise for Elon’s ath- Sports Director @alexsimon99 her sister, Kay Yow, at then-Elon College. letic department, which just has a one-line And while some memories have faded mention of the game on its website’s history For Dr. Janie P. Brown, the trips back and over the years, there’s one event Brown page. forth to the North Carolina Sports Hall of couldn’t possibly forget — the June 3, 1974 But Brown still has the game program, Fame (NCSHoF) meetings in Raleigh from women’s basketball game at Elon’s Alumni some newspaper clippings and a picture. her log cabin home in Northern Alamance Memorial Gym between the U.S. Colle- Combined with The Pendulum’s two-col- County can take a good amount of time. giate All-Stars and the Soviet Union na- umn, 30-line story on the game, there’s But the retired professor tional team. enough to uncover a hidden gem of a mo- of physical education doesn’t mind the drive, “It’s a shame that no one seems to talk ment in Elon’s history. especially when she can be a part of the in- about that game, because that was a big deal,” duction process as a member of the Board of Brown said. Directors. Belk Library’s archives at Elon do not See WBB RUSSIA This past summer, the NCSHoF inducted have anything about the game. The Burling- pg. 4

HEADLINE FROM 1974 NEWSPAPER ARTICLE (PUBLICATION AND DATE UNKNOWN), COURTESY OF JANIE BROWN Wednesday 2 November 9, 2016 BASKETBALL PREVIEW

JACK HARTMANN | Staff Photographer Junior guard Shay Burnett (5) looks to pass inside during the Late Night with the Phoenix scrimmage Oct. 21. Burnett was picked to finish on the Preseason All-CAA First Team.

Hoping that 12 is the magic number er this year. talk about going hard every rep Elon women hope “She’s definitely talked about and focusing on being the best that because we’re smaller in team we can be. small roster is just numbers this year,” Rhodes said. “Health? That’s in the hands of “We need to focus on keeping the the master, not us. All we can do is right for CAA title more experienced players on the concentrate on becoming a better floor longer, especially because team every day.” Alex Simon we have a couple of freshmen that Elon has a big chance to prove Sports Director @alexsimon99 need to be acclimated into the itself against top-level competition program.” throughout its non-conference Elon University head women’s The four freshmen — guards schedule, as the Phoenix will par- basketball coach Charlotte Smith Jada Graves, Lexi Mercer and ticipate in the Preseason Women’s knows that she is working with Madison Wilder and forward National Invitational Tournament one of the smallest rosters in the Ra’Shika White — were able to and face four Power-5 teams. country. acclimate with the Elon program But this weekend —the first of And she doesn’t seem to care, earlier than usual thanks to the the season — Elon will play three really only bringing one concern team’s trip to Italy in August. games in four days, playing two into the season about it. Smith called the experience a Preseason WNIT games Friday “I love the number that we “blessing,” and Burnett and the night and Sunday and then host- have,” Smith said. “12 players is a other upperclassmen are doing ing Rutgers University of the Big good number in making sure we what they can to help the fresh- Ten Conference at 5:30 p.m. Mon- ASHLEY KING | Staff Photographer get enough reps. My biggest con- men along. day. Smith said she scheduled the Senior guard Essence Baucom (2) runs the point during the Late Night with the Phoenix cern is that we don’t burn them “The eight returners, we’re Rutgers game before the Presea- scrimmage Oct. 21. Baucom, along with Burnett (5), will run the offense for Elon this year. out, and making sure we get them veterans,” Burnett said. “We have son WNIT invite came, which is, rest.” high expectations for getting them admittedly, not ideal. “With the seasoned team that es think highly of this team, but It’s a mindset that is shared to trust the process with Coach “If I had to do it over, I would we have, you want to challenge we’ve got to prove it everyday.” across the team with Elon re- Smith and we’ll help them along schedule the Rutgers game toward them,” Smith said. “I’m not wor- And the other coaches think turning its top the middle ried about wins and losses. I’m just highly of Burnett too, as she was six players by of the week worried about being challenged, picked on the Preseason All-CAA minutes played rather than and I feel like our non-conference First Team. After being on the All- from last year. WITH THE SEASONED TEAM THAT WE HAVE, YOU that Mon- schedule will challenge us and CAA First Team last year, Burnett Junior guard day, to give prepare us for conference play.” feels that she needs to continue to Shay Burnett WANT TO CHALLENGE THEM. I’M NOT WORRIED us more time Rhodes added, “She definitely prove she’s earned that role. feels as if the to rest and sees it as a challenge for us, but “I feel a target on my back to do team has pre- ABOUT WINS AND LOSSES, I’M JUST WORRIED focus in on she knows we can do it, and it will better than I did last year,” Burnett pared for hav- ABOUT BEING CHALLENGED, AND I FEEL LIKE OUR the presea- make us better in the long run to said. “I’m in the gym all the time, ing a small son WNIT,” get us ready for conference. I feel getting better every day. Since I roster size all NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE WILL CHALLENGE Smith said. like she wants to push us now so am a preseason first-team pick, it offseason. US AND PREPARE US FOR CONFERENCE PLAY. “But when we’re ready for the tough compe- puts a big target on my back. It’s “I think it’s we were an- tition and play to the best of our actually an honor that they con- good that we nounced as ability once we get to conference. sider me as one of the best in the have low num- CHARLOTTE SMITH one of the Playing these tough teams makes conference. I just got to show up bers, because WOMAN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH potential us look good in the postseason no and do my thing every game.” then everyone teams for the matter the outcome.” If Burnett can do that — and will get to play,” Burnett said. the way. Our eight upperclassmen preseason WNIT, I couldn’t turn And in the Colonial Athlet- if Elon can live up to, or even ex- “We’re deep on the bench — we really do help them and point out that opportunity down. That’s a ic Association (CAA), Elon was ceed, its preseason conference don’t have anybody that’s lower things to them. The coaches don’t chance of a lifetime, and the pro- picked to finish second in the ranking — then Elon can achieve than anybody on the team. I think have such a chaotic time with four gram has never been in the pre- conference, earning two of 10 its goal of finishing its season in that, with having low numbers, we of them that way.” season WNIT. You can’t turn it first-place votes. But as Smith the NCAA tournament. have to stay in shape. We’re a fast- With the small roster will down. We’re just going to have to and Rhodes both point out, Elon “The Big Dance — you win the paced team this year going up and come a challenge to stay healthy, gut it up, suck it up and do the best still hasn’t beaten Drexel, who the conference championship, that’s down the court. We’re going to get which Burnett feels the team has that we can do.” Phoenix is picked ahead of. where you go,” Smith said. “I’ve after it with 12 players.” been able to do. Smith’s plan to A few weeks later, Elon will “It’s just the polls, and we’ve been a part of it for several years, There are certainly going to address possible injuries is simply also face three local Atlantic Coast talked about not focusing on the so it’s an opportunity I’d love for be challenges playing an entire not to address them at all. Conference schools in a row, host- polls, but focusing on the process,” the team to experience. The most season with just 12 players on the “We don’t focus on injuries. ing Wake Forest University Nov. Smith said. “If I’m a coach look- important thing is continually fo- roster. One of the biggest aspects We don’t talk about injuries,” 26 before traveling to the Univer- ing at it, we’ve not proven that we cusing on the process and letting game-by-game will be staying Smith said. “I try not to spend a sity of North Carolina at Chapel can beat Drexel, and we’re ranked the chips fall where they may. If out of foul trouble, something lot of time in that area so they’re Hill Dec. 4 and to Duke Univer- higher than Drexel. We’ve got to we win a conference champion- senior forward Jenifer Rhodes not developing some type of men- sity Dec. 6. Smith understands the earn it, and nothing is given. I’m ship, great. And if we don’t, at least said Smith has focused on earli- tal complex about that. We just difficulty of Elon’s schedule. grateful for the fact that coach- we fall giving our best.” Wednesday BASKETBALL PREVIEW november 9, 2016 3

JUMPING FOR NEW HEIGHTS

JACK HARTMANN | Staff Photographer Elon University men’s basketball junior guard Dmitri Thompson (2) hangs on the rim after a dunk in Elon’s 88-43 exhibition victory over Randolph College Nov. 1. Thompson had 14 points on the night, shooting 5-of-5 from the field.

“We still want to get offensive rebounds Men’s basketball ready for and second-chance opportunities,” Matheny said. “It is very important that our bigger experience to shine through guys attack the glass, even if they are on the perimeter. Sometimes, that’s the best time to defensively in trying CAA go to the glass, because you’re so far out, peo- ple won’t box you out. We do need more than Alex Simon just the guy that’s in the paint to get offensive Sports Director @alexsimon99 rebounds.” One of the keys to achieving that will be As the Elon University men’s basketball senior guard/forward Christian Hairston, team gears up for another season, head coach who — at 6 feet 7 inches, 220 pounds — can Matt Matheny hasn’t been shy about his de- play multiple positions on the court. The po- light in his team’s work since last year’s disap- sitional fluidity that he has gives Matheny pointing finish. many different lineup combinations to try, “We have talked a lot to our players about something Hairston knows is valuable. how proud we are of how they worked in the “Last year, we had a few different lineups, offseason,” Matheny said. “I feel like we have whether that be because someone was out or better players this year than we had last year, Coach wanted to switch things up,” Hairston even though they’re the same guys. We’ve said. “We have a lot of guys that can contrib- had some player devel- ute to the team, so you might see a lot of dif- 11 of Elon’s opment — individual ferent lineups out there, maybe even to throw improvement. This is a the team off-balance. We’ve got a lot of guys top 12 players, different team.” who can help the team, and we’re all fighting in terms of Even though it’s a for the chance to get minutes.” minutes per new year, the cast re- In that fight for minutes in the exhibition ASHLEY KING | Staff Photographer game, are turning for 2016-17 victory over Randolph College Nov. 1 was ju- Sophomore guard Sheldon Eberhardt (20) is expected to contribute more this year, especially on the defensive end. returning this looks very similar to nior guard Dmitri Thompson, who came off that of last year’s. 11 of the bench after limited practicing time during year. Only Elon’s top 12 players in the week leading up to the game. Known as Matheny feels like the team needs to go after achieve its goal come conference tournament senior Tanner terms of minutes per “Meech” by his teammates, Thompson was the ball less and box out more. time. Samson has game are returning, a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, making all “There’s a dilemma that players are faced “We want to win the CAA championship,” departed from with only Tanner Sam- three 3-pointers to finish with 14 points on with: ‘Should I just go get the ball, or should I Hairston said. “We want to win the tourna- box out?’” Matheny said. “We want to err on ment in March and go to the NCAA tourna- the team. son ’16 departing from the night. But Thompson thinks the key to that group. With such the team’s success won’t be on offense. the side of team boxing out. If you box yours, ment. I think that’s the goal for everyone here. a large group coming “We can score — we have a lot of peo- we can get more defensive rebounds. We’re a Coach has been saying, ‘Play for the cham- back, the memories of last season are still viv- ple that can score, and we push the ball all team-rebounding team. pionship every day.’ We’ve been trying to go id in the mind of senior guard Luke Eddy. the time,” Thompson said. “But when we’re “We don’t have a Dennis Rodman-type hard in practice, and we’re trying to play for a “I think what we need to do — and what locked in defensively, when we get to be at that has averaged 20-plus defensive rebounds, championship every night.” we have done — is remember how we ended our best, we’re going to look like the Spurs. so we’ve got to be more of a box-out team. And with the Schar Center being built on last March,” Eddy said. “Remember that loss Good defense all around, from the bigs to the We’re trying to play different defensively, the other side of Williamson Avenue set to to Drexel [University], which I’ve been think- guards, ball screens, handoffs. We’re going where we’re not in as many rotations. I think open in two years, it’s the program’s — and ing about all year.” to be in-sync as a team, and I feel like that’s that’ll help us box out, but that’s an area where Eddy’s — dream to continue its growth with a Eddy is particularly excited to be sur- when we’re going to be at our best.” we’ve got to get better in.” March Madness trip. rounded by sharpshooters, saying it’s a “bless- It’s a common sentiment around the pro- Thompson agrees, adding, “I feel like we “Everything’s getting bigger in the Elon ing” to be the point guard on this team. Elon’s gram, as Matheny’s constantly working to still need to improve on our defense and our program,” Eddy said. “We’re getting a bigger playing style — which consistently has four improve the team’s defense and rebounding. rebounding. We still lacked a couple details, stadium. We’re getting bigger kids. More kids guys around the perimeter — opens the court Elon was ninth in the 10-team Colonial Ath- little things. That’s our main focus. We can are knowing our names. We play on national for a drive-and-kick guard like Eddy. letic Association in scoring defense, allowing score. We’re a pretty good scoring team. De- television. I think it’s great for the program. But it also leaves a possible deficiency in 75.4 points per game, and eighth in defensive fense and rebounding.” “But we still have two years left in Alumni offensive rebounding, something Matheny rebounding percentage, grabbing 70.5-per- If Elon can do that — and it’s a big if — Gym, and we have a lot of history to make says Elon is very cognizant of. cent of rebounds on that end of the court. then Hairston believes Elon will be able to here first.” Wednesday 4 November 9, 2016 BASKETBALL PREVIEW WBB RUSSIA from cover

Getting the game to Elon

The Soviet Union national women’s basket- ball team was coming to the United States for a tour of the country in 1974. The Soviets were to play five games against the national team of the United States, plus two additional regional games. Larry Brown was, at the time, the coach of the American Basketball Association’s Caro- lina Cougars, who were playing in Raleigh at North Carolina State University’s . According to a story from the time titled “‘Who The Devil is Elon College?’,” Brown talked to Amateur American Union (AAU) PHOTO COURTESY OF JANIE BROWN officials and suggested Elon as a host location The Oct. 11, 1974, story about the game that ran in the first for a regional game, as he had seen Kay Yow’s edition of The Pendulum, Elon’s student newspaper. team win the state championship previously. ets, she could not trust her eyes. The AAU representative then talked to Kay “When we got the roster, their measure- Yow and asked if Elon would want to play the ments were not in our measurements. Kay Russians. said, ‘Call the math department. We really “Kay said, ‘Oh, let me think about it,’” Brown need to know how tall she is.’ And of course, said. “She called him back later and said, ‘Oh, I she was almost 7 feet.” just don’t think my team can play them, but if In what The Pendulum’s Lanna Peavy you’ll let me choose a team from the area here, called “a slight smear,” the Russians ended then we’ll be glad to play that game.’” up cruising to a 114-41 victory over the U.S. The AAU agreed with Kay Yow, and a game women. Led by 6-foot, 10-and-three-quarter- was born. She grabbed two other coaches from inch tall Ulyama Semenova, the Soviets out- the area — Betty Westmoreland of Western scored the Americans 53-13 in the first half Carolina University and Nora Lynn Finch of and 61-28 in the second. Peace College — and formed a team of play- Jackie Meyers was finishing her senior ers from North Carolina, South Carolina and year of high school and preparing to join the Tennessee. Yow sisters at Elon in fall 1974. From Eden — a town 45 minutes north of Elon — Mey- Hosting the Soviets ers isn’t sure how she heard about the game, PHOTO COURTESY OF JANIE BROWN but had been following Elon for a number of The cover of the eight-page game program, which included When the Soviet team arrived at Elon, years already. rosters and a welcome from Elon president Fred Young. they received a bus tour of Alamance County Before the game, Meyers remembered the what it was like when I first came and the and Elon, visiting the school, the Alamance teams having an “Olympic-like ceremony,” beginning of women’s athletics, and I’ve kept Battleground and downtown Burlington. where the teams exchanged gifts with each in touched with most of those women who Afterward, Brown’s family hosted a cook- other. The visual differences between the played on those first teams,” Brown said. “I out for both teams at her home on Truitt teams were stunning to her. saw the first basketball game, the first volley- Drive. In the story that the Elon News Bureau “I was in awe of those women because ball game, the first softball game. I was just sent to local newspapers, it was Brown’s idea they were so [much] bigger than us,” Meyers around for all of those. I just became a part to have the cookout. said. “There was one woman who was 7 feet of that.” Brown said the entire reason she was so tall. She wasn’t very fast, but she was so good.” Wilson truly believes Elon was ahead of involved was simple: She shared an office Wilson said he “absolutely” was in atten- the curve on embracing women’s athletics, with Kay Yow. dance, and said the gym was full “and then and sees today’s sports as nearly equal to the “We fed them hamburgers and homemade some.” But one thing about the game that men. ice cream, and I don’t know if they’d ever had stood out to him was how polite and friendly “We saw how much the women’s sports homemade ice cream,” Brown said of the pe- everyone was, despite it being in the middle had progressed, and look at them now,” Wil- culiarities of the Soviet women. “When they of the Cold War. son said. “The really good women playing wanted water or soft drinks or tea, they didn’t “It was a very competitive game, and I basketball now could beat the average man. want any ice in it. They wanted it all at room don’t remember anything at all, but the they That’s how good they are. They’re probably temperature. But they really ate the ice cream, didn’t have fisticuffs or anything like that. better free throw shooters than the men.” and they enjoyed the hamburgers, too. They They were very, very well-mannered, and you exchanged gifts and they sat around, and al- didn’t have to worry about anything going Where are they now? though they could not communicate, it was a awry,” Wilson said. “The fans there were very wonderful event.” quiet and mannerly, like they were supposed Wilson coached at Elon until 1976, and The Russians also got a chance to swim in to be.” later was an administrator and head football the pool at Elon, but there was one problem: Brown remembers a conversation she had coach at Duke University. He recently retired They didn’t have any swim clothes. With cur- with Kay Yow years after the game about the and moved back to Burlington in 2015. He rent Elon mayor Jerry Tolley serving as guard, shift in attitude that occurred on the U.S. side. turned 91 this past June. the Soviet women swam “in their birthday “She said, ‘You know, you get in the mid- Tolley has lived in Elon for the majority of suits,” according to Tolley. dle of something sometimes, and you have his life since coming onto Wilson’s staff, be- Tolley was then an assistant coach on the this big goal, which was to win. Well, you fi- coming head coach after Wilson left and win- football team to Shirley “Red” Wilson, who nally realize you have to change your goals,’” ning two NAIA National Championships. was head coach and athletic director. Wilson Brown said. “She said, ‘At halftime, I told the Tolley is now the Mayor of the Town of Elon said it was a major focus of his group to give girls I knew one thing: We were not going to and can be seen frequenting local businesses PHOTO COURTESY OF JANIE BROWN the Soviet women the highest level of respect get beat by 70 points.’ And of course, it was on most nights. The June 4, 1974 story from the Greensboro News & Record about the game, which Russia won 114-41. possible. very close.” Kay Yow left Elon in 1975 to become the “We had to be sure that we could get the head coach of the NC State women’s basket- athletic director at Meredith College (a Di- Russian situation properly done,” Wilson Moving on and moving up ball team. She coached at the school until vision III school) and was inducted into the said. “We had to be sure that we didn’t do her death in 2009 due to breast cancer. The Elon Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. anything to offend any of the Russians, as One thing that stood out to Finch after the impact she has had on the sport continues to And lastly, Brown retired from Elon in well. We had to be sure we made them feel game was the friendship that Kay Yow struck shine through the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. 2005 after teaching for 39 years. She’s become welcome, which we did. And we had a lot of up with the manager, Lydia Alekseyeva. After spending 31 years with Kay Yow at well-renowned in Elon’s circles for her work fun watching them play, as well.” “They hit it off,” Finch said. “Kay and the NC State, Finch was named the senior associ- in promoting women’s athletics, winning As one final pregame story mentioned, Soviet coach developed a tremendously re- ate commissioner for women’s basketball for the Daniels-Danieley award in 1995 and the 500 people came to the gym to watch the two spectful personal relationship from that. And the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2008 and Elon Medallion in 2006. She moved out of teams practice the day before the big game. they coached against each other after that in continues to serve in that role today. the house on Truitt Drive to the log cabin in The article about the warm-ups noted that world championships.” Meyers played at Elon under Kay Yow for Northern Alamance County, but remains ac- the USSR team was greeted with “warm ap- And for Brown — Elon’s first voting rep- one season and transferred with her to NC tive in the NCSHoF, serving as president in plause” from the U.S. spectators. resentative in the Association for Intercolle- State, but then went back to Elon and finished 2014. giate Athletics for Women (AIAW) — it was her collegiate career with the Fighting Chris- And all Brown The game wasn’t close sheer luck that she was there during the be- tians. She returned to the school as a wom- wants is for this More online ginning of women’s sports at Elon. en’s basketball and tennis coach, spending 10 game to get talked visit our website at When Kay Yow got the roster of the Sovi- “I talk to classes at Elon very often about years (1985-1994) in the role. She’s currently about again. elonnewsnetwork.com to see more photos