Elon University women’s basketball secured a closely fought 69-61 victory over Gardner Webb University despite a rough shooting night.
Elon was coming off its season opener on Nov. 4 against High Point University where they got a thrilling 66-65 comeback victory and was looking to get a 2-0 start at Schar Center on Nov. 8.
The first half was tightly contested, but both teams exhibited sloppy play, chock full of turnovers and missed shots. Both teams were under 40% from the field, and the Phoenix was even missing a number of free throws.
Elon began the game with a 3-pointer from junior transfer Laila Anderson, but it wouldn’t find many more of those opportunities in the first half. They missed 8 of their first 10 shots, and by the first media timeout, the team had a 21% field goal percentage.
The lead traded back and forth throughout the first quarter as both teams struggled to shoot well. Elon, who forced a whopping 24 turnovers in its season opener, was aggressive defensively. This caused a number of turnovers by full-court pressing Gardner Webb. However, Elon had turnovers of its own, committing 9 in the first half. Head coach Charlotte Smith said the team pressed in order to create confusion among Gardner Webb.
“We want to play 40 minutes of having defense, pressing, trying to not only eat clock, but trying to create chaos,” Smith said in a postgame press conference. “There were even times when our press wasn't super aggressive, but we got turnovers off it, but just by creating confusion.”
But as the game went on, Elon wasn’t as aggressive with the press and eventually switched back to a man-to-man defense.
As the game progressed into the second quarter, the missed shots continued to rack up. Midway through the second quarter, Elon had a brutal three minute stretch of 3 turnovers and 0 points. Gardner Webb took advantage and took the lead. However, thanks to a 8-0 run capped off by a Kierra Morrow bucket, Elon charged right back and captured the lead once again. Junior Hannah Dereje led the offensive effort for the Phoenix with 6 points and 4 rebounds. Gardner Webb scored a couple of last-minute baskets to go up 33-32 going into halftime.
The second half mirrored much of the same trends the first half had. Just like how Anderson started the first half, redshirt junior Kamryn Doty tried to provide a spark by starting the half with a 3-pointer — but the offense wouldn’t last. Shooting on both sides didn’t improve as Elon scored less points in the third quarter than it did in the previous two. One bright spot was the rebounding department. Elon dominated on the glass, out rebounding Gardner Webb 48-36. Smith said she believes they had the opportunities, but just didn’t capitalize.
“We got open looks. They just didn't fall,” Smith said. “When the shots are not falling, you have to try to be a little bit more aggressive and get to the free line.”
Gardner Webb ended the third quarter missing 9 of their last 10 shots, but Elon didn’t take advantage of this opportunity. Late in the fourth quarter, no team had pulled away from the other — a trend seen all night.
In the final minutes, much like her 18-point season debut on Nov. 4, freshman Jayda Angel took charge and scored 17 points with 8 of them coming in the fourth quarter. A pair of clutch 3-pointers by Angel and Anderson with three minutes to go gave Elon a 7-point lead: their largest lead of the night. Free-throws from sophomore Maraja Pass with 63 seconds to go wrapped up the win for the Phoenix. Smith praised Angel’s ability to step up within her first two career games.
“We needed somebody that could score,” Smith said. “We needed somebody that can be a closer for us when the game is on the line, and that's always been her identity. So, I just love the fact that she's come in and not backed down from the challenge of being a go-to-player.”
Angel is off to a great start, but she said she hopes to improve defensively.
“I want to be more aggressive on defense and definitely less fouls at the beginning,” Angel said in a postgame press conference.
Elon moves to 2-0 this year, a good start for a team that went 11-21 and 2-11 at home. Elon next plays Marshall University on the road Nov. 13.