Powell Knocks Down Buzzer-Beater as Elon WBB Takes Game One Against Drexel, 59-57

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Elon University women’s basketball team defeated Drexel for the first time since the 2018 Colonial Athletic Association Championship on Saturday, Jan. 23, 59-57.

BOX SCORE

“What a thrilling win today,” said head coach Charlotte Smith. “The Daskalakis Athletic Center is a tough place to play, so we are definitely excited to have come out on the winning side. We did a tremendous job on the boards, which helped us after not shooting the ball well today. This was a great team effort and a big shot by Jaylin Powell!”

THE RUNDOWN
-The score remained tight through the entire first half, with neither team leading by more than three points.
-With 7:02 on the clock in the third quarter, Kayla Liles kickstarted an 10-2 run to put Elon up by seven (39-32). The quarter closed with Ariana Nance hitting a shot from deep to give Elon a five-point advantage (47-42).
-In the final five minutes of play, Drexel made back-to-back field goals to cut the Phoenix lead to one (54-53). The teams then traded a pair of free throws, but an and one from Mariah Leonard gave the Dragons a one-point advantage (57-56). Following Leonard’s missed the free throw and timeout by Elon, Powell nailed the game-winning three with one second remaining to make the final score 59-57.

NOTES
-Saadia Munford and Evonna McGill paced the nine Elon scorers, posting nine points apiece. Munford also recorded a season-best seven assists. The senior guard has now totaled at least five assists in four of her seven games played this season.
-Maya Johnson tallied a game-best 11 boards, while McGill followed with nine.
-As a team, the Phoenix outrebounded the Dragons, 45-31. The maroon and gold’s rebounds in addition to its field goal attempts (64), shot attempts from deep (31), rebounds (45) and assists (18) mark new highs for the season.
-Elon has now defeated two teams ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25, James Madison (12) and Drexel (19).
-The victory snaps a four-game losing streak against the Dragons.
-With the win, Elon improves to 6-3 (2-1 CAA) on the season.
-Smith’s record now stands at 168-125, just five wins away from breaking the program record for all-time wins.

UP NEXT
Elon will remain in Philadelphia for game two against the Dragons. Game time is set for 1 p.m. tomorrow, Jan. 24.