ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women's basketball team closed out non-conference play on Saturday, Dec. 22, with a 96-44 setback versus Auburn at Schar Center.
 
The Tigers (11-1) shot the ball well throughout the contest, shooting over 63 percent from the floor (38-of-60) while also hitting a season-high in three-pointers, 14-of-26. The Phoenix (5-6) was unable to keep up with the hot shooting of the Tigers, who came into the contest averaging over 80 points per game.
 
Elon shot 15-of-49 from the floor while going 4-of-15 from three. Emily Maupin led the Phoenix with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting while Lexi Mercer was the only other player in double figures for Elon with 11.
 
Auburn's Crystal Primm led five players in double figures for the Tigers with her game-high 17 points. Robyn Benton added 15 while Unique Thompson and Brooke Moore both had 14. Janiah McKay rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Tigers with 13.
 
The Rundown
Auburn scored the first two baskets of the game before Mercer answered with a three-pointer to bring the Phoenix within one, 4-3. A 5-0 run by the Tigers pushed the Phoenix's deficit to six, 9-3, but Jaylin Powell sliced that disadvantage in half with a trey of her own to bring the score 9-6 in favor of Auburn.
 
A 14-0 run by the Tigers followed and gave Auburn a 23-6 lead before a free throw by Mercer with 1:28 left in the period snapped the run. A three-pointer by Benton gave Auburn a 19-point lead, 26-7, but Elon rallied to trim the deficit to 15 at the close of the opening period, 26-11.
 
A jumper by Micaela Ryan brought the score to 27-13 in the second quarter, bringing Elon within 14. Auburn went on to outscore the Phoenix 24-6 for the remainder of the half. The Tigers took its first 20-point lead of the game midway in the quarter and took a 51-19 advantage into the locker room.
 
Elon began the second half on a 5-2 run and virtually traded baskets with the Tigers until late in the period. Auburn closed out the quarter on a 9-5 run to expand its lead to 69-35 going into the final quarter.
 
Auburn began the final 10 minutes with a 6-2 run before Ariana Nance snapped it with a pair of free throws near the 6:09 mark. After a Maupin layup with 5:43 left in the game, the Tigers closed out the contest with a 16-1 run including three straight three-pointers inside the final three minutes to cruise to a 96-44 victory.
 
Up Next
The Phoenix opens Colonial Athletic Association play on Friday, Jan. 4, at Northeastern. Elon is scheduled to tip-off against the Huskies at 7 p.m.