Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Elena is entering her second season with the Muleriders.

2024-25 (Junior): Totaled 28 games played and 28 games started…Collected 209 points… Shot .525 percent (94-179) from the field… Recorded .677 free throw percentage (21-31)… Totaled 170 rebounds (117 defensive – 53 offensive)… Accounted for 6 assists… Recorded 12 steals… Tallied 54 blocks, which marks the most by a Mulerider in a single season.

2023-24 (Sophomore | Arkansas Tech): Totaled 18 games played… Collected 20 points… Shot .417 percent (10-24) from the field… Totaled 24 rebounds (14 defensive – 10 offensive)… Accounted for 1 assist… Tallied 5 blocks.
 
2022-23 (Freshman | Oral Roberts): Totaled 2 games played… Collected 4 points… Shot .667 percent (2-3) from the field… Totaled 2 rebounds (1 defensive – 1 offensive).

Personal: Elena is a native of A Coruna, Spain, and went to high school at Galen. Elena transferred into Southern Arkansas University as a junior from Arkansas Tech University and transferred there from Oral Roberts University. Elena is the daughter of Monica Maria Rodriguez Villadoniga and Franciso Javier Lijo Barros and the sister of Miguel Lijo-Rodriguez (brother). During and following her first season with the Muleriders, Elena claimed a GAC Defensive Player of the Week honor (12/16/24), recorded the most blocked shots in a game by a Muleriders with 7 (Vs. Ouachita Baptist | 2/27/25), and was listed as a CSC Academic All-District member. During her time at SAU, Elena is pursuing a degree in University Studies.