ELON, N.C. – A near triple-double by Shay Burnett led the Elon women’s basketball team to a 90-83 win over Charlotte tonight, Nov. 19, in Alumni Gym. Burnett finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists (all career highs).
Elon held a 26-point advantage at half before the Charlotte managed to tie the game in the fourth period. The Phoenix held the 49ers from taking the lead and finished off the game on an 11-4 run.
The Phoenix (2-1) finished 32-of-70 from the field to shoot 46 percent, claiming 40 points in the paint, and went 9-of-23 from beyond the arc (38 percent). Elon also show 85 percent from the stripe, 17-of-20, and claimed a 47-39 advantage on the glass. The 49ers (2-1) shot 40 percent (29-of-73) and held a 38 percent mark from three.
Burnett held a 6-of-15 mark from the field and went 15-of-16 from the charity stripe, also a career high, while also tallying three steals. Three other players scored in double figures for the maroon and gold with 12 points from Malaya Johnson, 11 from Lauren Brown and 10 from Jenifer Rhodes.
Charlotte saw 19 points from Ciara Gregory followed by 16 points from both Kira Gordon and Lefty Webster.
Highlights
With Charlotte leading by two, 13-11, the Phoenix used a 9-0 run sparked by a Burnett three to take a 20-13 advantage with 6:08 on the clock in the first period. A basket from the left wing by Maddie McCallie with 33 seconds remaining put the maroon and gold up by 11, 27-16, as Elon maintained that edge into the second frame, 29-18.
In the second period, Nikki McDonald grabbed a defensive rebound off a Josepha Mbouma block that led to a Brown three at the other end to put the Phoenix up 36-22, forcing a 49er timeout with 7:23 to play. Threes by Lenaira Ruffin and Brown helped keep Elon in front by 18, 44-26, before six straight by Johnson in less than a minute made it a 20-point game, 53-33, with 1:21 remaining. Mbouma hit the fifth basket from long distance for the Phoenix of the period to make it a 23-point lead at the break, 56-33.
The Phoenix shot a hot 53 percent from the field in the first half, including 53 percent (8-of-15) from three. Elon held a 22-6 advantage in the paint and led on the glass, 24-19. The 49ers shot 32 percent from the field and 40 percent from long distance.
The 49ers started the second half on a 15-5 run to close the gap to 13, 61-48, with 5:28 on the clock. Elon answered with three straight baskets to move back ahead by 19, 67-48. A three by Charlotte’s Webster with 2:43 remaining pulled the 49ers to within 10, 67-57, forcing an Elon timeout. The 49ers closed out a 28-13 advantage in the third period to trail by eight, 69-61, heading to the final frame.
Charlotte carried the momentum into the fourth period and evened the game, 75-all, with 3:13 left to play. Elon answered with baskets by Rhodes and Burnett to return to a four-point lead, 83-79. The 49ers pulled back within two, 83-81, but were forced to foul in the final 74 seconds, sending Burnett to the line six times as she converted five of the attempts. A jumper by Johnson as time expired gave the Phoenix the final seven-point advantage.
Notes
The all-time series between Charlotte and Elon is now even at four games each…The Phoenix has won the last two straight meetings…Elon extends its home winning streak to four games, dating back to last season…This marked Burnett’s second double-double of the season and the third straight game she’s scored in double figures.
Next Up
Elon travels to the nation’s capital to take on American in its next game on Sunday, Nov. 22. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in Washington, D.C.