ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Elon University women's basketball team overcame a 19-point, first-half deficit and held a lead in the fourth quarter, but Winthrop was able to edge the Phoenix for a 58-57 victory on Sunday, Dec. 9, inside the Winthrop Coliseum.
 
The Phoenix (4-5) owned a five-point advantage early in the final period, but saw that lead erased by the Eagles (4-5), who snapped Elon's two-game win streak. Winthrop took the lead on a pair of free throws with 2:27 left in the game and although the chances were there, the Phoenix was unable to complete to second-half comeback.
 
Lexi Mercer had a team-high 12 points for the Phoenix while playing a team-high 32 minutes off the bench. Jaylin Powell was the only other Elon player in double figures with 11 points also off the bench. Overall, Elon shot 19-of-59 (.322) from the field including a 7-of-29 (.241) mark from downtown.
 
Winthrop's Courtney Hagaman scored a game-high 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Essence Cowan completed the Eagles' double figure scorers with 13 points while Anika Riley nearly had a double-double with nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
 
The Rundown
Elon got off to a slow start in the game as Winthrop jumped out to a 7-1 advantage. The Phoenix hit its first field goal of the quarter on a three-pointer from Mercer with 6:12 left in the period, but Winthrop went on a 7-0 run to take a 10-point advantage, 14-4. The Phoenix ended the quarter down 25-9 to the Eagles.
 
In the second quarter, the Phoenix outscored the Eagles 14-5 to bring itself back into the contest. After Winthrop converted its last field goal on a layup with 3:34 left in the first, Elon went on a 9-1 run to close out the second. A buzzer-beating three-pointer by Brie Perpignan cut the Phoenix's deficit to seven going into the locker room.
 
Elon continued to push in the start of the third. Five quick points scored by the Phoenix tied the game at 30-all on a three by Perpignan. Powell gave the Phoenix the lead, 32-30, on a jumper in the lane, with 7:40 in the third. Winthrop scored five straight to retake the lead, 35-32, but a 7-3 run from the Phoenix gave the lead back to Elon, 39-38 after free throws from Saadia Munford. Hagaman hit a jumper with 1:23 left in the third before the Phoenix pushed its advantage to three on a jumper by Anna Popovic 30 seconds later to go into the fourth up 45-42.
 
The Phoenix started the fourth with a jumper by Perpignan to move ahead by five, 47-42. Both teams traded baskets until the 6:27 minute mark when Kayla Liles converted a layup after a steal from midcourt to put the Phoenix back in front by five, 52-47. Winthrop went on a 7-0 run to take the lead, 54-52, before Powell tied the contest at 54-54 on a pair of free throws with 2:27 left in the game. The Eagles retook the lead for good as Cowan converted on a pair of free throws to put Winthrop up 56-54 with 1:58 left in the game.
 
A jumper by Winthrop's Jah'che Whitfield put the Eagles ahead by four, 58-54, with 43 seconds remaining. Elon answered with a three-pointer from Mercer to bring itself within one, 58-57, with 26 seconds left to play. After nabbing a steal with 16 seconds left, Elon looked for another clutch bucket to pull out the victory, but could not convert on a couple of chances as the Phoenix fell, 58-57.
 
Up Next
The Phoenix will break for final exams before returning to its home floor versus North Carolina A&T on Tuesday. Dec. 18, at Schar Center. That game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.