Second Half Puts Liberty Past Elon Women’s Basketball

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Elon women’s basketball team was not able to overcome a 12-2 surge in the third period by Liberty, falling, 72-63, tonight, Nov. 16, in the Vines Center in its first road game of the season.

Elon led by as much as eight at the break, 42-34, before LU out-scored the maroon and gold by 17 in the second half.

The Phoenix (1-1) finished 21-of-58 from the field for a 36 percent mark, including 5-of-18 from long distance (28 percent). The defense tallied 10 steals and forced 18 turnovers. The Flames (2-0) went 24-of-56 for 43 percent from the field, but was held to three baskets from beyond the arc for 19 percent. LU also claimed the advantage on the boards, 41-35.

Elon saw four players reach double figures led by 14 points from Josepha Mbouma. The senior went 4-of-8, including 2-of-3 from three, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the line and also hauled in six rebounds. Essence Baucom posted 13 points followed by 12 from Lauren Brown. Shay Burnett finished with a team-high eight boards and also added 10 points.

“I thought we played really well in the first half,” said Elon head coach Charlotte Smith. “Offensively, we shared the ball and pushed the tempo. In the second half, when the shots weren’t falling, we didn’t do a good job of boxing out and defending.”

Highlights
Liberty opened up a five-point advantage in the first period before a three from Mbouma and jumper by Baucom evened the game, seven-all. With 27 seconds left in the opening frame, Johnson grabbed an offensive board and followed with a layup to put the Phoenix up, 18-16.

Leading by one in the second period, 22-21, a Baucom three sparked a 6-0 run for the maroon and gold that held LU scoreless for over three minutes. A Brown three-pointer from the right wing at the 4:39 mark gave Elon a 31-25 advantage with 4:39 remaining. With time expiring, Mbouma grabbed a steal off Liberty’s Sadalia Ellis and finished off the fast-break with a layup with one tick left on the clock to equal Elon’s largest lead and put the team ahead, 42-34, at the break.

The Flames closed the gap to four, 44-40, to start the third period before Mbouma answered with a three to put the Phoenix back up by seven. Liberty closed out the period on a 12-2 run, holding Elon scoreless for 5:54, to take its first lead, 52-49, since the 3:20 mark in the first.

LU continued its run into the final period, taking as much as a 12-point advantage. A Baucom three with six seconds remaining made it a nine-point differential in the end.

Notes
Liberty extends its advantage in the all-time series, 12-4…Elon has not won in Lynchburg since 2000.

Next Up
Elon returns home to Alumni Gym to host Charlotte in its next game on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.