ELON, N.C. – Playing in front of an NCAA Division I program-record crowd of 3,087 – including more than 2,400 elementary school students – the Elon women's basketball team jumped out to an early lead Thursday but couldn't hang on, falling 63-51 to Richmond on Education Day.
 
Lenaejha Evans led the Phoenix (4-4) with 14 points, while Raven Preston posted her second career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Chloe Williams joined both players in double figures with a career-high 10 points and made her first two career 3-pointers to help Elon to a season-high seven makes.
 
The Spiders (8-3) countered the Phoenix's trio of double-digit scorers with four of their own, led by Addie Budnik and her 15 points. Grace Townsend, Katie Hill and Emilija Krista Grava followed her with 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
"It was a very special moment, from the kids entering the building to listening to them sing along with the songs and having so much joy," said head coach Charlotte Smith of the Education Day festivities. "That's what sports are about, bringing joy to people. The atmosphere was electric. Even though we didn't get the result that we wanted, I wouldn't trade it for the specialness of the moment and what the kids got to experience."
 
THE RUNDOWN
 

• Feeding off the crowd's energy, the Phoenix came out hot, shooting 61.1% (11-for-18) from the field to build a 26-23 lead by the end of the first quarter. Williams – who hadn't scored more than eight points through seven career games – was especially efficient, scoring all 10 of her points on 4-for-4 shooting.
• With 8:30 left in the second quarter, Preston drained a corner 3-pointer to put Elon up 29-25. That ultimately matched the Phoenix's largest lead, as Richmond used a 13-2 run to secure a 39-33 advantage by halftime.
• Coming out of the break, the Spiders quickly pushed their lead to double digits, but Elon hung around, pulling within five after a steal and layup by Maya Johnson and a jumper by Ajia James. Richmond, however, held the Phoenix scoreless over the final 4:47 of the third quarter to enter the fourth with a 50-42 lead.
• With 7:29 left in the fourth quarter, Regina Walton made a 3-pointer to cut Richmond's lead to 56-49, but Elon couldn't pull any closer.

 
NOTES
 

• Thursday's crowd marked the Phoenix's largest since becoming a Division I program before the 1999-2000 season. The previous record of 1,622 was set against North Carolina in the first game at Schar Center on Nov. 6, 2018.
• Thursday's game marked the first time that Elon held an Education Day since Jan. 27, 2011. The program welcomed more than 2,400 elementary school students from 10 Alamance-Burlington School System schools as well as Burlington Christian Academy and The Burlington School.
• Evans went 7-for-17 from the field for her sixth straight double-digit scoring game. In that span, she's averaging 15.3 points on 50% shooting (36-for-72). The streak comes after the Rider transfer scored six points on 3-for-12 shooting in her first two games with the Phoenix.
• Preston went 4-for-10 from the field for her fourth consecutive double-digit scoring game. She's averaging 18.5 points on 56.9% shooting (29-for-51) in that span.
• Preston's double-double was the second of her career. The other came against Old Dominion on Nov. 22.
• Preston also led Elon with a career-high four assists.
• Williams' 10 points surpassed her previous career high of eight, set against NC State on Nov. 10. Her four field goals and two 3-pointers were also career highs.
• The Phoenix made a season-high seven 3-pointers. It made six against High Point and Howard.
• Elon didn't attempt a free throw for the first time in Smith's 12-season tenure.
• Richmond shot 66.7% from the field in the first half, marking the best shooting percentage by a Phoenix opponent in any half this season.

 
UP NEXT
 

• Elon will visit Davidson at 1 p.m. Sunday before traveling to Orlando, Fla., to face Loyola Chicago and UCF on Dec. 20 and 21 as part of the UCF Holiday Classic.