NEWARK, Del. – The Elon University women's basketball team begins postseason play this Wednesday, March 13, as the Phoenix opens the Colonial Athletic Association Championship Tournament versus Hofstra at the Bob Carpenter Center. The game is scheduled for a noon tip-off.
 
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Wednesday's game will be streamed on CAA.tv. Fans can also listen to the game on WSOE 89.3 with Matt Holzapfel and Andrew Vendelis on the call. Other updates of the game between the Phoenix and the Pride will be provided on Twitter at the handle @ElonWBasketball.
 
Series History (Elon leads 9-2)
Elon swept the season series against the Pride with the last contest being a 55-52 nail-biter on the Phoenix's home floor at Schar Center on March 7. Kayla Liles led four players in double figures for the maroon and gold with her 12 points. Brie Perpignan and Saadia Munford both had 11 for Elon while Ariel Colón added 10 points as the Phoenix overcame losing its eight-point lead in the fourth quarter to emerge with its seventh straight victory over the Pride. The last time the two teams met in the CAA Tournament came in 2016-17 where the Phoenix eliminated the Pride, 78-50.
 
Last Time Out
Elon closed out its regular season with an 83-57 setback at the hands of Northeastern last Saturday, March 9, at Schar Center. The Phoenix started the game off strong with a 6-0 lead, but a 41-6 run by the Huskies that carried from the first to late in the second quarter put the game out of reach for Elon. Emily Maupin was one of three players in double figures for the Phoenix, scoring 15 points. Liles and Perpignan added 13 and 12, respectively.
 
All-CAA Recognition
Maupin was recognized by the league on Tuesday as the sophomore forward earned third team All-CAA accolades. The Charlottesville, Va., native earned her first all-league honor after leading the Phoenix in scoring (11.6 PPG) and rebounding (6.0 RPG) during the regular season. She also has scored in double figures a team-high 17 times this season including a 26-point outburst against UNCW on Jan. 13.
 
March Madness
The Phoenix enters the tournament as the defending two-time league champions, but will play in its first first round game since entering the league in 2015. Elon is the No. 8 seed for the tournament and will square off versus No. 9 seed Hofstra in the opening game of the championship tournament. The Phoenix has reached at least the semifinals round in each of its seasons in the league and have won six straight in the CAA Tournament. A victory in tomorrow's game will set the Phoenix up with a date against No. 1 seed James Madison on Thursday, March 14, at noon.
 
Fastbreaks
• Elon concluded its regular season with a 9-20 record and a 4-14 mark in the CAA. The nine wins were the fewest for the Phoenix in the regular season since 2008-09.
• Elon is seventh in the CAA in scoring at 61.7 points per game. The Phoenix is also in the top-five of the league in free throw percentage at .708 and in the top-six in field goal (.391) and three-point percentage (.304).
• Maupin is averaging a team-high 11.6 points per game in her sophomore season after only averaging less than two a game during her freshman year. She has also scored in double figures in 17 games and is averaging 11.6 PPG during CAA play.
• Maupin is in the top-five of the CAA in field-goal percentage at .475 percent. Her team-high 6.0 boards per game is eighth overall in the league.
• Perpignan enters the tournament having scored in double figures in seven straight games and nine out of her last 10. She is averaging 11.9 points per game during the stretch and shooting over 51 percent from the field.
• Jaylin Powell has provided a scoring boost for the Phoenix beyond the arc this season. The Raleigh, N.C., native currently leads the CAA in three-point percentage at .427 percent and is knocking down .447 percent from downtown in league games. Her overall percentage would stand as the best single-season performance in school history.
• Lexi Mercer leads the Phoenix with 36 makes from beyond the arc this season and twice tied a personal-best with five three-pointers in a game at College of Charleston and versus UNCW.
• Elon returns eight letterwinners from its team that successfully defended its Colonial Athletic Association Tournament title and made a return trip to the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
• The Phoenix closed out 2017-18 with a 25-8 record overall and a 14-4 mark during league play including a 13-game winning streak to close out the regular season and conference tournament.
• The Phoenix was tabbed to finish third in the 2018-19 CAA Preseason Poll as conducted by the league's head coaches on Oct. 18. Elon received one first-place vote en route to 61 points for a tie for third place. James Madison (79 points) and Drexel (71 points) were selected in front of the Phoenix, who tied with Delaware for third with 61 points.
• Elon returns three starters from last year's team including sophomore guard Saadia Munford, an CAA All-Rookie team selection in 2017-18. Munford was chosen as a Preseason All-CAA selection this season with her spot on the third team.
• Additionally, the Phoenix added five newcomers to the 2018-19 roster, which will again be one of the youngest in the nation with only two upperclassmen and no seniors.
   
Scouting Hofstra (9-21, 3-15 CAA)
The Pride suffered an 83-72 setback in their regular-season finale at William & Mary last Saturday and finished the season with a 9-21 record overall with a 3-15 ledger in the CAA. As a team, Hofstra ranks 10^th in the CAA in scoring at 59.0 points per game and is shooting .388 percent from the floor and .303 from three-point land. Additionally, the Pride ranks last in the CAA in free throw percentage at .652 percent.
 
Boogie Brozoski paces the Pride with her team-best 15.6 points per game and 120 assists. She scored 30 points in Hofstra's game at William & Mary, her third 30-point game of the season. Senior Sica Cuzic joins Brozoski as the only other Pride player in double figures, averaging 10.0 points per game, while junior Ana Hernandez Gil adds 9.1 points per contest.
 
Up Next
Should the Phoenix advance, it will take on No. 1 seed James Madison on Thursday, March 14, at noon, inside the Bob Carpenter Center.