ELON, N.C. – The Elon women’s basketball team set a new Division I single-game team high this season with 17 blocks en route to a 50-38 win over East Tennessee State today, Nov. 29, in Alumni Gym. The Phoenix outscored the Buccaneers 30-17 in the second half, including an 18-4 advantage in the third period, and held ETSU scoreless for an 11:11 frame that spanned both halves.
The Phoenix (4-2) finished 19-of-66 from the field to shoot 29 percent and went 67 percent from the charity stripe (10-of-15). The Bucs (3-4) shot 15-of-61 for a 25 percent clip and also finished 67 percent from the line (4-of-6), while taking the advantage on the boards 49-47.
Jenifer Rhodes led the Phoenix with a season-high 13 points and had three blocks followed by 12 points from Lauren Brown. Malaya Johnson fell just shy of a double-double with eight points, a career-high 14 rebounds and tied a career high with five blocks. Shay Burnett tallied 10 rebounds, while Autumn Carter set a career high with four blocks.
Highlights
The Phoenix was held without a field goal until the 5:48 mark in the first period when an Essence Baucom layup made it a 5-4 Elon lead. ETSU moved ahead to a six-point advantage with 1:37 remaining, 15-9, before Burnett found Rhodes for a jumper to make it a four-point game, 15-11, as the first frame ended.
After ETSU claimed a seven-point advantage, 21-14, Elon was forced to call a timeout at the 3:17 mark. A jumper by Johnson sparked a run by the Phoenix that was capped as Baucom drove through the lane for a layup and was fouled with 31 seconds on the clock. She missed the free-throw opportunity but made it a 6-0 run for Elon and closed the gap to one, 21-20, at the break.
The Phoenix carried the momentum into the third period as a Rhodes bucket gave Elon its first lead since the opening period, 22-21. Elon continued its surge as a steal by Baucom led to a fast-break layup with 3:50 on the clock to make it a 19-1 run and a 33-22 game, holding the Bucs without a field goal since the 3:22 mark in the second. ETSU ended its drought with its only field goal of the period with 1:54 remaining before a Brown three made it a 38-25 game heading into the fourth.
A Rhodes jumper and Johnson layup in the first two and a half minutes gave the Phoenix its biggest lead of the game, 42-25, in the final period. The Bucs managed to cut its deficit to 11 points, 46-35, with 3:53 to play but baskets by Rhodes and Baucom put the Phoenix back in front by 15, 50-35. A block by Johnson with 1:02 on the clock gave the maroon and gold its 17th block of the game, reaching the most by any team this season. ETSU hit a three with seven ticks to go to make it a final 12-point differential.
Notes
Elon now leads the all-time series against ETSU, 4-3…Burnett’s 10 rebounds marks her fourth game in double figures on the boards this season and the second for Johnson.
Next Up
Elon travels to Greenville, S.C., to take on former Southern Conference foe Furman on Saturday, Dec. 5, in a 2 p.m. tip in Timmons Arena.