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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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-- ELON --