Greensboro — The Elon University women’s basketball team led for less than two seconds against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Spartans, but that was all they needed — with a last minute buzzer beater basket, the Phoenix won 52-49 on Dec. 15.
With the teams tied at 49-49 with just seconds remaining, senior guard Brie Perpignan drove to the basket, fought through contact and made a layup to put Elon ahead for the first time in the game. She was also fouled on the play and made the ensuing free throw to give the Phoenix a three point lead with just 1.4 seconds left on the clock. A Spartans turnover on a desperate last second heave ended the game and gave the Phoenix their largest comeback win of the season.
Elon trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half but finished the game on a 17-2 run and held UNC Greensboro scoreless for the final 5:53.
Perpignan scored a team high 14 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter. Redshirt senior guard Ariana Nance scored 11 points, while senior center Evonna McGill had eight points, including the layup that tied the game at 49-49 with 19 seconds remaining.
The Phoenix forced nine turnovers in the fourth quarter, the most crucial of which came with four seconds left, as a travel by Spartans guard Jaylynn Brown gave the Phoenix the ball and set up the game winning possession.
Elon struggled on three pointers, going just 2-15 for the game. However, the Phoenix dominated inside, outsourcing the Spartans 28-16 in the paint and blocking seven shots, including five by McGill.
Elon (7-2) returns home for its final two non-conference games against Gardner-Webb University and Francis Marion University on Dec. 20 and 30. Both games begin at 7 p.m. at Schar Center.