ELON, N.C. – Leading by just one at the break, the Elon women's lacrosse team (4-3) used a strong second half to take an 11-6 win over Coastal Carolina (1-3) tonight, March 6, at Rhodes Stadium.
 
Led by four goals from rookie Kelsey Dupere, Elon outshot Coastal, 23-13, en route to a 7-3 advantage in the second frame. The Phoenix claimed 11 of the 19 total draw controls, picked up 14 ground balls and went 12-of-15 on clear attempts.
 
Stephanie Asher netted three goals for the maroon and gold followed by Molly Garrigan with two scores and a team-high five draw controls. Nicole Sinacori and Jacie Cooper also finished with goals in the game, while Sloane Kessler tallied two assists.
 
Goalie Rachel Ramirez recorded four saves between the pipes to claim the win and also picked up a game-high five ground balls.
 
Asher scored Elon's first two goals on free-position shots to give the Phoenix a 2-0 lead by the 18:57 mark. After a Chanticleer score, Dupere netted her first of the night to make it a 3-1 advantage halfway through the opening frame. Coastal evened the game at three goals each before Asher scored with 1:13 left in the half to make it a 4-3 Elon edge at the break.
 
After the Chanticleers made it 4-4 at the beginning of the second half, the Phoenix rattled off three straight scores from Garrigan, Sinacori and Dupere to put the maroon and gold ahead by three, 7-4, with 18:15 left to play.
 
With under 15 minutes remaining, a goal by Garrigan followed by a free-position shot by Cooper moved the Phoenix to a four-goal advantage, 9-5. In the final seven minutes, Dupere netted Elon's last two scores, with the final assisted by Kessler with 1:48 left, to lift the Phoenix to the five-goal victory.
 
In the game, the Chanticleers picked up 11 ground balls, claimed eight draw controls and went 10-of-13 in clears. Coastal's Keri White led the team with two goals, while Jenna Stover tallied six saves.
 
Elon remains home at Rhodes to host its second straight Big South opponent in High Point on Wednesday, March 11, at 6 p.m.