Post-Game Press Conference

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Elon University women's basketball team punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament in impressive fashion, as the Phoenix downed James Madison, 78-60, in the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championship on Saturday, March 11, at the JMU Convocation Center.
 
With the win, Elon in makes the school's first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament for women's basketball.
 
"I'm still pinching myself because this doesn't seem real," said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. "I'm so extremely proud of this team and the effort that we put forth in every single game throughout this tournament. We met our defensive goals in regards to holding teams under 40 percent. We rebounded the ball well and we shared the basketball all night long. Those were the three things we did an incredible job at the entire tournament."
 
 

It was once again a stingy defense efforts and balanced attack on offense that led the maroon and gold to victory, its 14th win over the last 15 games. The Phoenix held JMU to 23 percent shooting from the floor, including a 4-of-9 clip from beyond the arc.
 
Elon put four players in double figures, led by 17 points from the tournament's MVP, Lauren Brown. Brown played all but one minute of tonight's game, going 5-of-12 from the floor.
 
Essence Baucom ended the night with 16 points, while Shay Burnett and Malaya Johnson each tallied 14 points for the Phoenix.
Elon carried a 16-10 lead after the first quarter, as the Phoenix defense limited the Dukes to 22 percent shooting on 4-of-18 field goal attempts to hold the early lead. The maroon and gold went 6-of-12 in the first 10 minutes of the game.
 
Elon kept up the defensive intensity going into the locker room at the half, as the Phoenix led by 11 points, 36-25. The Phoenix held the Dukes to 21 percent shooting in the opening frame, including a 0-of-5 clip from three.
 
The Phoenix increased its lead to 12 points in the early stages of the third quarter, as a Baucom old-fashioned three-point play gave Elon a 42-30 advantage with 5:12 remaining.
 
Elon held JMU without a field goal make for the first 4:13 of the third, until a Barrier jumped made it a 42-34 game.
 
But the Phoenix would take a 22-point lead later in the fourth, as a 10-run spurred by the play of Johnson on defense and offense gave the maroon and gold a 60-38 advantage.
 
But JMU managed to claw back and make it a 13-point game with 4:15 to play after a Hall jumper off an Elon turnover made it a 63-50- game. Hall made it an 11-point game with 3:45 to go with a deep three in front of the JMU bench to limit Elon to a 64-53 advantage.
 
However, the Phoenix held strong down the stretch, holding JMU to a 2-of-11 clip in the final minutes to secure the victory.

2017 CAA All-Tournament Team
Essence Baucom, Elon
Lauren Brown, Elon
Shay Burnett, Elon
Sarah Curran, Drexel
Precious Hall, JMU
Marlena Tremba, William & Mary

2017 CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Lauren Brown, Elon