ELON N.C.-- Elon women's basketball fell to reigning CAA Champion Drexel on Friday, Jan. 28, 72-60.
 
"I'm proud of the way that we fought and the way that we played in the first half," said head coach Charlotte Smith. "I felt like we did some really good things offensively and did a pretty solid job on rebounding in the first half. We just have to figure out how to put two halves together in order to be successful. But overall, I'm just pleased with the way we played the first half. I thought we came out really strong."
 
THE RUNDOWN
-The Phoenix opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 5-0 run out of the gate. Three pointers from Peyton Carter and Kayla Liles lifted the Phoenix to a seven-point lead (11-4), but the Dragons came back to even the score with 4:44 remaining. The maroon and gold capped the first-quarter scoring with a triple from Ajia James to close out the period without surrendering the lead (23-17).
-Elon's defense stepped up in the second quarter and didn't allow the Dragons to go on any significant scoring runs. Brie Perpignan hit a pair of field goals to lift Elon to a double-digit lead (31-21) with 6:06 left in the first half. The Phoenix continued to pour on points, holding an eight-point lead at the half (35-27).
-Drexel went on a 14-4 run coming out of the half to snatch the lead from Elon for the first time with 6:29 on the clock (39-41). However, a put back, and-one layup by Maya Johnson recaptured the lead for Elon and sparked a 7-2 run to give Elon 46-43 lead with 3:51 remaining. The Dragons outscored the Phoenix 12-3 in the closing minutes to take a 49-55 lead going into final frame.
-Drexel extended its lead in the fourth quarter with a 10-4 run, taking a 53-65 at the media break. Liles and Perpignan didn't miss from the charity stripe in the final minutes of the game, but it wasn't enough as the Dragons went on to get the win.
 
NOTES
-Perpignan paced the Phoenix in points (22) and led both teams in assists (6). The senior guard also pulled down three rebounds and had one block in 35 minutes played.
-Liles finished the night with eight points, four rebounds and two assists, while Maya Johnson also chipped in eight points in addition to adding three rebounds.
-Bria Harmon contributed five points, a career-high three assists, one rebound and one steal.
-Carter and Tyja Traore combined for 12 points and six rebounds.
-With the loss Elon falls to 10-6 (2-4 CAA) on the season.
 
UP NEXT
Elon will host Delaware at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30 inside Schar Center.