Elon Women’s Basketball Falls at Hofstra

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Elon women’s basketball team was not able to keep its winning streak going, falling 59-49 at Hofstra today, Jan. 31, in the Mack Sports Complex.

“Overall, as a team, we did not shoot the ball well,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “We had a lot of opportunities to finish at a better percentage down in the paint. We held them below 35 percent, which is our goal, but we gave them too many second-chance opportunities. We have to get in there to get offensive rebounds to give ourselves a chance when we’re not scoring well. We’re a better team than we showed today and we have to find a way to be consistently who we are.”

The Phoenix (12-8, 5-4 CAA) was held to a 28 percent clip from the field after going 18-of-64 and hit five shots from long distance (24 percent). Elon was only sent to the line 12 times but hit eight of its attempts for 67 percent. The defense tallied a conference season-high 10 blocks.

Malaya Johnson led the Phoenix with her second double-double of the season after 11 points and 11 rebounds and also recorded five blocks. Maddie McCallie and Jenifer Rhodes followed with eight points each, while Shay Burnett claimed seven points and six assists.

The Pride (16-4, 7-2 CAA) finished 20-of-59 from the field to shoot 34 percent and claimed a 38 percent mark from three (6-of-16). HU went 13-of-24 from the charity stripe (54 percent) and claimed the slight advantage on the boards, 48-43. Kelly Loftus led all players with 18 points, while Anjie White had a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards.

Highlights
Elon started the first period with a 7-0 lead thanks in part to a three by Burnett, while three blocks by the defense helped the defense hold the Pride scoreless until the 5:05 mark. Back-to-back threes by Hofstra led to a 9-0 run as HU took a 14-11 edge into the second period.

The Pride continued its momentum into the next frame moving in front by 10, 24-14, forcing a maroon and gold timeout with 5:10 on the clock. Hofstra led by as much as 14, 28-14, with 3:35 to play before baskets by Johnson, Burnett and Lauren Hudson helped close the gap back to 10, 30-20, at the break.

A jumper by McCallie got the second half started to put Elon within eight, 30-22, just 90 seconds into the third period. HU responded eight straight for a 16-point advantage, 38-22, before a three by Lauren Brown at the 5:03 mark ended the Phoenix scoring drought. An old-fashioned three point play by Nikki McDonald with 18 seconds remaining kept the maroon and gold within 13, 45-32, as the period ended.

McCallie hit two baskets from beyond the arc, making it a 52-38 game with 7:01 left to play. With 5:18 on the clock, Rhodes hit a free throw to complete an and-one opportunity to bring the Phoenix back within 10, 52-42. A three by Brown kept it a 10-point game, 57-37, with 1:39 left to play but that was as close as the maroon and gold was able to get.

Next Up
Elon welcomes William & Mary to Alumni Gym for its first meeting with the Tribe this season on Friday, Feb. 5, for a 7 p.m. tip.