The Elon University women’s basketball team concluded its regular season with a 49-45 win over the William & Mary Tribe. With the victory, Elon clinched the number four seed in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, which will begin on March 10.
This was Elon’s second win over William & Mary in three days, as the Phoenix defeated the Tribe 85-61 on March 3.
Elon led 26-11 at halftime and held William & Mary to just 4-25 on field goal attempts. In the second half of the March 3 game and the first half of today’s game, Elon outscored William & Mary 82-36.
William & Mary cut the halftime deficit to nine points at the end of the third quarter and tied the game at 45-45 with 2:11 remaining in the fourth. However, senior guard Brie Perpignan scored a layup with 1:03 left to give Elon back the lead, and after two missed 3-pointers from William & Mary, Perpignan made a pair of free throws to secure a four-point win.
Perpignan scored 12 points including a team-high eight in the second half. Senior center Evonna McGill scored 13 to lead the team and redshirt senior guard Ariana Nance scored 12 points and made all three of her 3-point attempts.
Elon finishes the regular season with a 9-9 CAA record, good enough for fifth in the final standings. However, because fourth place James Madison University cannot compete in the CAA Tournament due to the school’s impending move to the Sun Belt Conference, Elon will be the fourth seed in the tournament. This is Elon’s highest seed in the event since it was the third seed in 2018.
Elon will receive a first-round bye in the CAA Tournament and will play its first game on March 11 against the College of Charleston Cougars at 2:30 p.m. The tournament will be hosted by Drexel University at Daskalakis Athletic Center.