ELON, N.C. — Ajia James made two 3-pointers in the final 1:22 – including the game-winner with five seconds left – as the Elon women's basketball team secured a dramatic 60-57 win over High Point in its home opener Sunday at Schar Center.
Playing in her first non-exhibition game at Schar Center, Rider graduate transfer Lenaejha Evans led the Phoenix (1-2) with 19 points. She was one of three Elon players in double figures, along with James (12 points) and Evonna McGill (11). Skyler Curran paced the Panthers (1-2) with 20 points and Nevaeh Zavala added 17, but it wasn't enough.
"We're excited to get our first win at Schar Center," said head coach
Charlotte Smith. "I'm sure it was a thriller for the fans; it was nerve-racking for me. We'd much rather have an ugly win than a pretty loss, so I'm excited for the team and proud of their ability to execute in crunch time. Ajia hit some big shots at the end that put us over the top, so we're excited to get the win."
THE RUNDOWN
- Before the game even started, High Point was awarded a technical free throw due to an issue with the shot clock. Curran made it to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead, but that didn't faze the Phoenix, which scored 14 of the first 16 points after tipoff en route to an 18-6 first-quarter lead. Elon shot 50% (8-of-16) and outscored High Point 14-2 in the paint in the period.
- Despite such success, the Phoenix couldn't carry its momentum into the second quarter. Elon made only two of its 14 shots in the period, as High Point outscored the Phoenix 17-8. McGill sat out the entire quarter after picking up her second foul 3 1/2 minutes into the game, but Elon still entered halftime up 26-23.
- Coming out of the break, High Point tied the game at 28 before the Phoenix responded with a 7-0 run that began with Evans' first 3-pointer of the season. Both teams traded baskets from there, with the Panthers cutting Elon's lead to one three times before finally seizing a 46-45 lead with 28 seconds left in the third quarter. The lead marked High Point's first since the 8:44 mark of the first period, and the Panthers carried it into the final quarter.
- Curran scored the first points of the fourth period when she drained a 3-pointer with 7:05 remaining, giving High Point a 49-45 lead, its largest of the game. McGill scored the next five to push the Phoenix back in front, but over the next three minutes, she picked up two more fouls, fouling out with 3:25 left. Evans fouled out about 90 seconds later, and after Curran made two ensuing free throws, the Panthers led 57-54.
- Then entered James, who made a 3-pointer to tie the game with 1:22 left before knocking down her go-ahead shot moments later. High Point called a timeout to set up one final shot, but Curran missed a 3-pointer and the Phoenix held on.
NOTES
- James' game-winning basket marked Elon's first in the final five seconds of a game since Brie Perpignan's and-1 against UNCG on Dec. 15, 2021.
- James scored all 12 of her points in the second half while going 4-for-6 on 3-pointers.
- After scoring six total points in her first two games with the Phoenix, Evans erupted for 19 on 7-of-13 shooting.
- Raven Preston hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds, the most by an Elon player since Vanessa Taylor tallied 13 in a 71-66 overtime win over the College of Charleston on Feb. 13. The freshman's seven rebounds over the first 13:16 of action were more than any Phoenix player had recorded in a game all season.
- Elon improved to 14-1 in its last 15 home openers and 11-1 in home openers under Smith.
UP NEXT
- The Phoenix will continue its three-game homestand at 2 p.m. Saturday, when it welcomes UNCG to Schar Center. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting ElonTickets.com or calling the Elon Ticket Office at 336-278-6750.
-- ELON –
