HIGH POINT, N.C. – In its final non-conference game of the season and last contest of the 2023 calendar year, the Elon University women's basketball team picked up a victory at High Point on Saturday behind another strong outing by star freshman Maraja Pass. 

Pass continued her impressive start to the season, leading the team with 20 points and eight assists, while adding six rebounds in the 74-66 win. Pass impacted play throughout the game, attacking the rim and taking what the High Point defense gave her. 

In addition to scoring at an effective and consistent rate, Pass made the right reads while running Elon's offense, orchestrating an efficient performance for the team from start to finish. The Phoenix shot 54% from the field, its second best field goal percentage in a game this season. 

The guard's eight assists were a career high as she has now registered at least seven assists in three straight games. She propelled the maroon and gold to a sizable first-half lead and helped the team hold on late by attacking the rim and getting to the free throw line. 

Yes ma'am Maraja!!!!#TogetherWeRise #PhoenixRising pic.twitter.com/GJWPE5st75

— Elon Women's Basketball (@ElonWBasketball) December 30, 2023

"We shot the ball really well and Maraja Pass continues to be our fearless leader," head coach Charlotte Smith said. "We are just excited to be entering into conference play taking positive momentum and going into the new year with a win." 

Pass, who has already been named CAA Rookie of the Week twice this season, has now scored in double digits in each of her last six games. Her eight free throw makes Saturday were the most in her career as her ball handling, quick feet and athleticism allowed her to create opportunities driving to the basket. The freshman from Shelby, N.C., is now averaging 10.9 points, 4.3 assists and 6.6 rebounds in 13 games played. 

Defense ?? Offense#TogetherWeRise #PhoenixRising pic.twitter.com/WyKUb71IiB

— Elon Women's Basketball (@ElonWBasketball) December 30, 2023

The Phoenix immediately made its presence known defensively, making life hard for High Point. Stemming from the defensive intensity and secure rebounding, the offense began to follow, as Elon jumped out an early first-quarter lead. In the second, the floodgates opened at the rim, and the Phoenix cashed out on nearly every opportunity. Several players contributed offensively as Elon tallied 44 first-half points. 

The Phoenix was scorching-hot from three, splashing five of its first six attempts to go ahead by as many as 20 midway through the third quarter. The Phoenix came into this matchup making just 25% of its three-point attempts. 

Elon withstood a late High Point push to win its third road game of the season and close out the calendar year in style. 

"I am really proud of the way we played today coming off of an extended Christmas break," Smith said. "I feel like we were really focused and we came out and played with a lot of energy,"

The Phoenix ends its non-conference schedule with a 4-9 record and will look to carry momentum and scorching shooting into its 2024 CAA campaign, beginning Jan. 5 versus Towson at Schar Center. 
 

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'Rising Phoenix' is a new student-led initiative to cover Elon Athletics. Through innovative content creation and storytelling, Elon University students will have the opportunity to highlight the moments, people and events that make an impact, leveraging the athletic department's various web and social media platforms for distribution. Follow Rising Phoenix on Twitter (@EURisingPhoenix) and Instagram (@elonrisingphoenix). Interested in joining this initiative as a content creator (video, graphics, writing, storytelling, or more)? Contact Jacob Kisamore at jkisamore@elon.edu.

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