BOONE, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix women's basketball team scored just two points in the final 9:25 of regulation and saw a 55-41 lead turn into a 66-63 overtime defeat at the hands of the Appalachian State Mountaineers in a Southern Conference tilt from the Holmes Center in Boone, N.C. on Monday night. Elon fell to 3-6 overall and 0-2 in the SoCon while Appalachain State improved to 4-4, 2-0.
Elon, which never trailed in regulation, built a 32-23 halftime advantage after shooting a blistering 61.9 percent from the floor in the half.
The Phoenix pushed its lead to as many as 15 points in the second half when Myra Donkin hit a jumper for two of her career-best 10 points to put Elon up 53-38 with 10:23 to play. Nikko King put in a layup with 9:25 left to give the Phoenix it's 55-41 advantage.
Appalachian State then went on a 13-0 run over the next 8:58 to trim the margin to 55-54 before Elon answered with a Kitara McMoore layup with 27 ticks left to push the lead to three points.
With 18 seconds left, ASU's Kiki Conyers hit a three to even the score for the first time in the game. McMoore had a chance to give Elon the win in regulation, but the shot rimmed out with nine seconds left.
In overtime, Tierra Bumbrey gave Elon the lead at 59-57 with a layup with 3:58 to play in the overtime period before the Mountaineers took their first lead at 60-59 on a Greteya Kelley three at 3:35. Elon answered with a McMoore jumper to regain the lead at 61-60. Whitney Tossie's two free throws with 1:48 put ASU back in front at 62-61 with 1:48 left. McMoore's jumper with 1:19 left gave Elon its final lead at 63-62. Danielle Edwards scored on a layup with 16 seconds left to give ASU the lead for good. Kelley hit two free throws with one second left to provide the final margin.
McMoore led Elon with 16 points, eight rebounds and a career-best six assists. King added 13 points and eight boards while Bumbrey passed for seven assists to pace the Phoenix
Edwards led all scorers with 17 points. She added eight rebounds and three steals to lead ASU. Kelley finished with 16 points and Tossie ended the game with 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Phoenix will break for Christmas before returning to action at 2:00 p.m. on Dec. 30 at home against UNC Pembroke.
-- ELON -- Game Box Score
