NEWARK, Del. – The Elon University women's basketball team battled back from a 16-point deficit to nearly pull off the comeback win, but Hofstra was able to hold on late for the 77-75 victory in the opening round of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament on Wednesday, March 13, at the Bob Carpenter Center.
 
Elon (9-21) nearly overcame being down for the entire game with a furious comeback in the second half against the Pride (10-21). In the end, a school and a CAA Tournament Tournament record 42 points from Hofstra guard Boogie Brozoski helped the Pride hold off the Phoenix.
 
Jaylin Powell had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead four Phoenix players in double figures for her second double-double of the year. Emily Maupin added 14 points while Ariel Colón and Kayla Liles both contributed with 11. Overall, the Phoenix shot 28-of-60 from the field and 7-of-16 from three.
 
Brozoski was 13-of-24 from the floor and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. She also was a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line. Sica Cuzic was the only other player in double figures for Hofstra, who shot 27-of-56 from the field as a team.
 
The Rundown
Hofstra opened the game with a 9-2 run, but the Phoenix answered with a 6-2 run of its own to cut the Pride's lead to 11-8. Seven unanswered points from Hofstra put the Pride up 10, 18-8 and held a 26-15 lead after the opening period.
 
Brozoski helped the Pride push their lead to 16, 36-20, on a three-pointer with 6:51 in the second quarter. Elon went on a 14-5 run for the remainder of the period to trim its deficit to seven, 41-34, as the game went to halftime.
 
In the third, the Phoenix cut the Pride's lead to six as Liles nailed a three-pointer to make the score 47-41 with 7:47 left into the quarter. A 7-0 Hofstra run capped by a Brozoski three-pointer put the Pride back ahead by 13, 54-41. A 17-7 run for the Phoenix over the next 4:40 helped bring the maroon and gold within three, 61-58. Powell was one of the main catalysts during the run, scoring nine points including a pair of threes. Two free throws from Brozoski pushed Hofstra's lead to five, 63-58, going to the fourth quarter.
 
A three-pointer by Liles to start the fourth brought the Phoenix within four, 65-61, but Hofstra answered with a 10-2 run over the next 4:48 to hold a 12-point lead, 75-63, with 3:57 left in the game. Elon cut the lead in half on layups from Powell and Lexi Mercer making the score 75-69 with 1:08 to play. After Hofstra split on a pair of free throws, Powell nailed a three to pull the Phoenix within four, 76-72, with 50 seconds to play.
 
Hofstra again went one-of-two at the line, moving up 77-72, but Mercer converted on an old-fashioned three-point play to make it a one-possession game, 77-75, with 39 seconds remaining. The Phoenix held the Pride on the defensive end and retained possession with 17 seconds left to play looking for the tie or go-ahead basket.
 
Elon went for the tie first as Powell took a shot in the lane, but the the jumper could not fall. Powell however was able to corral the offensive carom and the Phoenix was able to setup for a final look. Elon went for the win as Maupin fired a three-pointer from the left corner, but the shot hit the back iron as Hofstra held on for the 77-75 win.