ELON, N.C. – Ajia James and Maraja Pass combined for 40 points but that was not enough for the Elon University women's basketball team (2-9) to weather a second half storm from the Marshall Thundering Herd (6-4) on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 17, at Schar Center.
 
Pass led the Phoenix in scoring for the third consecutive game with a career-high 21 points. Pass went 10-for-20 (50%) from the floor while also stating career-highs in rebounds (9) and assists (8). James followed with a season-high 19 points, one shy of her career-high, including five threes from beyond the arc while tying her career-high three steals against the Herd.
 
"Overall, I'm really pleased with our effort today. I felt like we came out and played with a competitive fire and energy," said head coach Charlotte Smith. "We just have to find a way to close out games but overall, I am just really pleased with the effort displayed from our basketball team today."
 
THE RUNDOWN

• Marshall got on the board first to open the first quarter before back-to-back layups from Ava Leroux put the Phoenix in front 4-3. The Herd went on scored four straight points before Elon tied the score at 13-13 thanks to a driving layup from Maraja Pass. With three minutes remaining in the quarter Elon went on an 8-5 run to hold a 21-18 lead after 10 minutes of play.
• Marshall quickly tied the score in the second quarter at 23-23 before Ajia James got hot going 3-for-3 (100%) from downtown in the second quarter propelling Elon to a 36-29 lead with just under four minutes left in the half. The Herd cut the Phoenix lead to three and entered the half with Elon ahead 38-35.
• The Herd struck first in the third quarter followed by layups from James and Pass. The Herd responded scoring back-to-back three-pointers to take their first lead since early in the second quarter at 44-42. Marshall then finished the quarter on a 21-11 run to gain a 65-53 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
• The Phoenix sliced into the deficit and got back within single digits at 79-71 thanks to a jumper from Aly Wadkovsky. Back-to-back layups from Iycez Adams put the Phoenix within five before the Herd sunk four foul shots to seal an 84-77 victory.

NOTES

• Iycez Adams, Ajia James, Ava Leroux, Maraja Pass and Regina Walton started for the Phoenix.
• Pass flirted with a triple double tallying 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. The eight assists were the most by an Elon freshman since Raven Preston tallied eight against William & Mary last season.
• James netted a season-best 19 points hitting 5-for-8 from the three and shooting 66.7% (6-for-9) from the floor. James also tied her career-high in assists with three while also adding three boards and one assist.
• Adams recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds while also tying her season-best in blocks with three.
• Ava Leroux and Maya Johnson both recorded eight points, a season-high for Johnson.
• As a team, the Phoenix tied a season-best shooting 46.7 percent (7-for-15) from the three.
• Elon outscored Marshall in the painted area 44-30.

UP NEXT

• The Phoenix will be back in action in Schar Center on Tuesday at 1 p.m. when they welcome Mount Olive.