Elon WBB Phoenix Wins Double Overtime Thriller at Delaware

NEWARK, Del. – After last second threes at the end of regulation and the first overtime to keep the game alive, Shay Burnett scored on a layup with one second remaining in the second overtime to give the Elon women’s basketball team a 66-64 win at Delaware today, Feb. 7, in the Bob Carpenter Center.

A Lauren Brown three with six seconds left in regulation found the bottom of the net to even the game against the Blue Hens and send the game to overtime. In overtime, Shay Burnett drained another three with two ticks left for a second overtime. UD stole the ball on an inbounds play in the final seconds but turned it over as Burnett got a hand on it and put it up for the final score.

“We talked about how these kinds of games are uncomfortable but they are character-building games and it teaches you a lot,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “I felt like we fought today for this game. I’m really excited to come out with a win.”

The Phoenix (14-8, 7-4 CAA) shot 30 percent from the field on the day after hitting 27-of-89 shots, including 6-of-25 from beyond the arc (24 percent). Elon was sent to the line 11 times, converting six attempt for 55 percent. The maroon and gold claimed a 23-6 point advantage off turnovers and scored 34 points in the paint, while claiming the advantage on the boards, 61-51.

Burnett led the Phoenix with 18 points and claimed her sixth double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. Jenifer Rhodes also posted a double-double after 10 points and a career-and-game high 12 boards. Lauren Brown tallied 13 points for the Phoenix followed by another 11 from Malaya Johnson.

The Blue Hens (11-11, 6-5 CAA) went 20-of-61 from the field to shoot 33 percent and had four baskets from long distance (33 percent), while going 20-of-27 from the charity stripe for a 74-percent mark. Courtni Green led all players with 24 points, while Makeda Nicholas hauled down a team-high 11 rebounds for the Blue Hens.

Highlights
After a Nikki McDonald three got the Phoenix on the board in the first period, the Blue Hens took as much as a eight-point lead, 13-5. Baskets by Essence Baucom and Burnett closed the gap to four, 13-9, before UD made it a 17-11 advantage after the first frame.

The Blue Hens moved to a 21-11 lead by the 7:54 mark before a Burnett jumper capped a run of five straight to pull within four, 21-17. Delaware moved back to a seven-point edge with 33 seconds remaining but Burnett hit a free throw with nine ticks left to make it a 28-22 game at the half.

In the third period, a steal by Johnson led to a Rhodes layup to bring the maroon and gold back within four, 30-26. A long offensive possession, which included two offensive rebounds by Baucom, allowed a three from the left wing by Johnson make it a one-point game, 30-29, with 5:21 on the clock, forcing a UD timeout. Brown followed that up with another three to give Elon its first lead of the game, 32-30, but the Blue Hens answered on the next possession with another three to regain the advantage, 33-32, with 4:05 remaining. With the Phoenix leading by one, 38-37, Josepha Mbouma grabbed an offensive board off a missed three for a layup with one tick left to make it a 40-37 Elon lead.

The Blue Hens hit a three at the 8:57 mark in the fourth period to take a 42-40 edge. The game saw two more ties before Delaware scored five straight with the help of an old-fashioned three-point play to move ahead by five, 49-44, with 2:44 to play. Brown hit a three with 2:05 on the clock to close the gap to two, 49-47. The Phoenix trailed 51-48 before Brown hit the triple to even the game at the end of regulation.

The score remained tied at 51-all in overtime until two free throws by Brown with 70 seconds on the clock put the maroon and gold up by two, 53-51. With 17 seconds remaining, the Blue Hens hit two from the line to take a 55-53 advantage. UD moved ahead by three, 56-53, as Burnett drained a three with two ticks left to send the game to another overtime.

In the second overtime, a layup by Johnson put the Phoenix in front, 62-60, at the 2:05 mark. The game reached its 10th tie at 64-all before the final score by Burnett.

Notes
This was the second straight overtime game Elon and Delaware have played…Elon is now 17-11 all-time in overtime games…This marked Elon’s first win in games that go beyond a first overtime…The Phoenix leads the all-time series against the Blue Hens, 3-0.

Next Up
Elon is home for two straight games next week, beginning with a matchup against Towson on Friday, Feb. 12. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym.