ELON, N.C. – Down by as many as 23 points, the Elon women's basketball team used a terrific third quarter to claw its way back to within one, but the Phoenix couldn't get any closer, falling 70-56 to Stony Brook on Sunday at Schar Center.
 
Evonna McGill and Raven Preston led the Phoenix (4-15, 0-8 CAA) with 13 points each. Preston also added nine rebounds, falling just short of her fifth double-double as Elon won the battle of the boards, 35-33.
 
The CAA's third-leading scorer entering Sunday, Anastasia Warren paced the Seawolves (11-7, 5-2) with 19 points. Gigi Gonzalez followed her with 18 points, and Sherese Pittman rounded out the trio of Stony Brook double-digit scorers with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
THE RUNDOWN
 

• After both teams traded baskets over the first 37 seconds, the Seawolves seized control of the game by outscoring the Phoenix 21-4 for the rest of the first quarter. Stony Brook shot 56.3% from the field (9-for-16) en route to a 23-6 lead at the end of the period, while Elon shot 15.8% (3-for-19).
• The Seawolves' success continued into the second quarter, which they opened with a 6-0 run to push their lead to 29-6. Not to be deterred by its largest deficit of the season, the Phoenix used a 9-2 run to get back within 16 points. Elon proceeded to cut Stony Brook's lead to 34-20 a few minutes later, but the Seawolves ended the period with a 6-2 run and entered halftime up 40-22.
• As much fight as the Phoenix showed in the second quarter, it showed even more in the third, opening the period with an 11-0 run to pull within seven points. After Stony Brook snapped the run with a pair of free throws, Elon went on a quick 8-2 spurt to get within three. It later pulled within two on a 3-pointer by Lenaejha Evans, and although the Seawolves scored the final two points of the quarter to go up 48-44, the Phoenix entered the fourth with all the momentum, having outscored Stony Brook 22-8 in the third.
• Coming out of the break, Kamryn Doty made a 3-pointer to pull the Phoenix within one. Both teams traded baskets over the next two-plus minutes, but with 6:45 remaining, Pittman made a jumper that ignited a 13-2 Seawolves run. An Ajia James jumper cut Stony Brook's lead to 65-54 with 1:17 left, but Warren made a 3-pointer on the next possession to put the game away.    

 
NOTES
 

• Elon shot 47.7% (21-for-44) over the last three quarters – including a combined 55.2% (16-for-29) in the second and third.
• The Phoenix committed 13 turnovers, tied for its third fewest this season. This came after Elon committed just six on Friday at UNCW, its fewest in head coach Charlotte Smith's 12-season tenure. The Phoenix entered the game against the Seahawks averaging 20.1 turnovers in 17 games.
• Elon won the battle of the boards for the 13th time this season.
• The Phoenix held a 23-8 edge in bench points.
• Preston scored in double figures for the sixth time in eight career CAA games. The double-digit effort was her 11th overall, tying her with Evans for the team lead.
• McGill's 13 points were her most in eight home games this season.
• Maya Johnson matched her season high with six points. She also notched five rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal to finish with a team-best plus-minus of plus-two.
• Doty matched her career high with two 3-pointers for the second straight game. She's 6-for-15 from behind the arc over her last five games.

 
UP NEXT
 

• Elon will hit the road to face Delaware at 7 p.m. on Friday and Drexel at 2 p.m. next Sunday.