ELON, N.C. — The Elon women's basketball team (13-12, 7-7 CAA) battled hard but fell short against Drexel (15-9, 11-3 CAA), 63-56, on Sunday afternoon.
 
Elon 56, Drexel 63
THE RUNDOWN

• The teams went back and forth to open the first quarter until Drexel went on a 6-0 run to take an 11-5 lead. The Phoenix responded with a 5-1 run, led by Raven Preston, to close the gap to 12-10 with 1:26 remaining. The Dragons finished the quarter on a 5-1 run, taking a 17-12 lead after one.
• Preston and Jayda Angel scored back-to-back baskets to start the second quarter, cutting the deficit to one at 17-16. Drexel quickly answered with an 8-2 run, extending its lead to 25-18 with 6:03 left in the half. Consecutive three-pointers from Laila Anderson and Angel brought Elon back within one at 25-24. The teams continued to trade baskets until two straight Drexel scores pushed the lead to five. However, Kamryn Doty knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer, sending Elon into halftime trailing 31-29.
• The teams exchanged baskets throughout the third quarter until a 5-0 run by the Phoenix, sparked by Preston and Iycez Adams, tied the game at 38-38. The back-and-forth battle continued, with Drexel eventually pulling ahead 45-41. Adams then hit two free throws to close the quarter, bringing Elon within two at 45-43.
• Drexel opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run, extending its lead to 53-43 with 6:26 remaining. Adams and Preston ended the Dragons' run with back-to-back baskets, cutting the deficit to six. Elon then went on a 9-3 run, capped by a three-pointer from Anderson, bringing the Phoenix within three at 55-52 with 1:17 left in the game. Drexel responded with six straight points to push its lead to 61-52. Despite four late points from Adams, the Dragons secured a 63-56 victory over Elon.

NOTES

• Elon maintained its starting lineup of Iycez Adams, Laila Anderson, Ava Leroux, Maraja Pass, and Raven Preston.
• Preston led the team with 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting while also securing a team-high six rebounds.
• Adams also scored in double figures with 14 points, going 100 percent from the free-throw line, while adding a team-high four steals and one block.
• Anderson and Kamryn Doty each knocked down two three-pointers to lead the team from beyond the arc.
• Elon outperformed Drexel in second-chance points (12-8), steals (12-6), and bench points (15-2).

UP NEXT      

• The maroon and gold head to Charleston on Friday, Feb. 23, before welcoming Triad rival North Carolina A&T on Sunday, March 2, at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.