CHARLESTON, S.C. – Lenaejha Evans poured in a season-high 20 points and the Elon women's basketball team used its best defensive performance of the season to secure a 62-49 win over the College of Charleston on Sunday.
 
Evans went 8-for-14 from the field, including 5-for-8 in the second half, en route to her most points since scoring 21 against Marist on Feb. 21, 2022, with Rider. Ajia James and Raven Preston joined her in doubles figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively, and James added eight rebounds and four assists as part of a strong all-around effort.
 
Jaila Roberts (17 points) and Jada Logan (12) both finished in double figures for the Cougars (9-12, 4-7 CAA), but the Phoenix (7-16, 3-9) limited them to just 28.6% shooting (18-for-63), the lowest mark by an opponent in almost two years. 
 
THE RUNDOWN
 

• Elon wasted little time scoring the first two points of the game, as Evonna McGill sent the opening tip to Kamryn Doty – who then made a layup just four seconds in. That marked the start of a game-opening 7-0 run by the Phoenix, but Charleston outscored Elon 11-3 the rest of the period to take an 11-10 lead in the second.
• The Cougars pushed their lead to 15-11 early in the second quarter, but the Phoenix responded with a 12-3 run that included seven points by Evans to seize a 23-18 lead midway through the period. Charleston eventually tied the score at 23 a few minutes later, but McGill and Preston scored the final four points of the quarter to give Elon a 27-23 halftime lead.
• Coming out of the break, the Cougars scored seven of the first 11 points of the third quarter to pull within 31-30. James and Evans made back-to-back jumpers to give Elon some breathing room, but only momentarily, as both teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter and the Phoenix entered the fourth clinging to a 41-40 lead.
• Looking to build some separation, Elon scored the first five points of the fourth quarter via an Evans putback and a Doty 3-pointer. The Cougars managed to hang around for the next four-plus minutes, but with 5:05 left, James made a jumper that ignited a 12-2 run that helped the Phoenix put the game away.

 
NOTES
 

• The win marked Elon's second in a row and its third in its last four games. The two-game winning streak is the Phoenix's longest since a four-game streak from Nov. 13-27, 2022.
• Charleston's 28.6% shooting percentage marked the lowest by an Elon opponent since the Phoenix held Howard to 26.3% on Nov. 15, 2021.
• The Cougars shot just 10.5% (2-for-19) on 3-pointers, the lowest mark by an Elon opponent since the Phoenix held UNCG to 10% (2-for-20) on Dec. 18, 2020.
• The Cougars' 49 points were the second fewest allowed by Elon this season. The Phoenix held Hofstra to 46 on Jan. 6.
• After committing 16 first-half turnovers, Elon tallied seven in the second half. Over its last two games, the Phoenix is averaging 15.5 turnovers in the first half and only six in the second.
• Evans' 20 points bested her previous Elon high of 19, set against High Point on Nov. 13, 2022.
• Evans scored in double figures for the third straight game, her longest streak since a seven-game stretch from Nov. 13-Dec. 18, 2022. With Preston also finishing in double figures, she and Evans remain tied for the team lead with 14 double-digit efforts.
• James has scored nine or more points in four straight games. She's averaging 10 points in that stretch; she averaged 5.7 in her first 19 games this season.
• McGill continued her success against Charleston, totaling nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks. She's averaging 12.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in three career games against the Cougars.

 
UP NEXT
 

• Elon will return to Schar Center to host William & Mary at 7 p.m. Friday.