WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Despite turning in its best offensive first half in over a month, the Elon women's basketball team couldn't carry its momentum into the second, falling 64-56 on Sunday at Monmouth.
 
Evonna McGill scored 14 of her team-high 16 points in the first half as the Phoenix (4-11, 0-4 CAA) shot 53.6% (15-for-28) from the field. Raven Preston fell just short of her fourth double-double with 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds, and Lenaejha Evans rounded out Elon's double-digit scorers with 13 points.
 
Brianna Tinsley led the Hawks (8-7, 3-1) with 20 points, including 17 in the second half. Belle Kranbuhl pulled in a team-high seven rebounds as Monmouth outrebounded the Phoenix 39-30.
 
THE RUNDOWN
 

• Elon came out hot offensively, making five of its first seven shots to secure an 11-9 lead. The Hawks used a 9-2 run to go up 18-13, but a quick 6-0 spurt by McGill and Preston – who combined for 17 first-quarter points – helped the Phoenix eventually end the period tied at 19.
• With 7:13 left in the second quarter, Tinsley made a 3-pointer to give Monmouth a 24-23 lead, its first of the period. Elon responded with an 8-2 run, though, and eventually entered halftime up 31-28. The halftime lead marked the Phoenix's first since Dec. 2, 2022, at Howard.
• Coming out of the break, Elon scored five of the first six points of the third period to earn its largest lead of 36-29. Tinsley then got hot, scoring seven straight points to tie the game at 36. The Phoenix answered with a run 5-0 run to go back up five, but the Hawks scored 11 of the last 13 points of the quarter to go into the fourth up 47-43.
• Looking to keep its foot on the gas, Monmouth scored nine of the first 11 points of the fourth quarter to secure a 56-45 lead. A 6-0 run midway through the period helped Elon pull within five, but it couldn't get any closer, as the Hawks responded with a 6-0 run of their own to put the game away.

 
NOTES
 

• McGill's 16 points were her most since scoring a season-high 17 on Nov. 27, 2022, at NC Central.
• McGill started 6-for-6 from the field en route to a season-high-tying eight makes.
• With 15 points, Preston upped her season scoring average to a team-best 13.2. The freshman has scored in double figures in three of her first four CAA games.
• Preston led the Phoenix in rebounding for the 10th time.
• Evans' 13 points were her most since scoring 13 on Dec. 18, 2022, at Davidson.
• Ajia James made her second start of the season.
• Elon's 56 points were its most since scoring 72 at Davidson.
• The Phoenix scored 38 points in the paint, its most since scoring 60 at NC Central.

 
UP NEXT
 

• Elon returns to Schar Center to host Delaware at 7 p.m. Friday and Northeastern at 1 p.m. next Sunday.