Elon WBB Phoenix Falls to Dragons in Philly

PHILADELPHIA – Shooting woes plagued the Elon women’s basketball team as the Phoenix was not able to overpower a hot-shooting Drexel team, falling 74-31 today, Jan. 17, in the Daskalakis Center.

The Phoenix (9-7, 2-3 CAA) was held to a season-low 22 percent clip from the field off a 13-of-58 performance, hitting only three baskets from long distance. Elon finished 2-of-4 from the charity stripe (50 percent) but held the advantage on the boards, 38-36.

Essence Baucom and Shay Burnett both finished with seven points for the Phoenix followed by six points from Lauren Brown, while Jenifer Rhodes hauled down seven rebounds.

The Dragons (7-9, 3-2 CAA) matched a season-high 50 percent off another 28 field goals (28-of-56), including a 41 percent mark from three (9-of-22), while hitting 9-of-10 from the line for 90 percent. Sarah Curran led Drexel with 22 points off nine field goals, a team-high seven boards and handed out six assists. Both Jessica Pellechio and Rachel Pearson followed with 14 points.

Highlights
After Drexel opened the game with a 9-2 advantage, forcing an Elon timeout at the 7:12 mark, a three by Brown and a jumper by Burnett pulled the Phoenix within two, 9-7, with 5:39 remaining. The Dragons managed to keep Elon without a field goal the rest of the period, holding a 21-8 lead after the first frame.

Brown broke the Phoenix scoring drought with 8:46 on the clock in the second period with her second three of the game. Baucom followed with a layup 38 seconds later to make it a 10-point deficit, 23-13, as the maroon and gold held DU scoreless for a 3:42 span. Drexel got the momentum moving again and claimed a 38-19 advantage at the break.

The Dragons extended its lead to 27, 47-20, in the third period before Baucom scored the first field goal of the half for Elon with a three, 47-23, at the 5:01 mark. The Phoenix entered the fourth period trailing 52-25 as Drexel extended its lead to the final 43-point victory.

Next Up
Elon returns home to Alumni Gym next weekend to host College of Charleston on Friday, Jan. 22, in a 7 p.m. tip.