Hempstead, NY – Senior Aleana Leon led three Pride players in double-figures with 17 points, but Elon senior Malaya Johnson tallied her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the visiting Phoenix to a 72-65 victory over Hofstra in a Colonial Athletic Association game at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex Friday night.

Hofstra, which dropped its seventh consecutive contest, falls to 10-15 overall and 4-10 in the CAA while Elon, which posted its sixth consecutive victory, improved to 18-7 on the year and 10-4 in conference play.

In addition to Leon, who scored 16 of her 17 points in the second half, Hofstra received 15 points from sophomore E'Lexus Davis and 12 points from classmate Marianne Kalin. The Pride battled back from a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to close to within five in the waning seconds of the contest after shooting 64 percent from the field in the final frame including 7-of-10 from the three-point line.

In addition to Johnson, Elon received 11 points from both freshman Saadia Munford and sophomore Lexi Mercer and 10 points from senior Shay Burnett. The Phoenix outrebounded the Pride, 37-24 and never trailed in the contest.

The Phoenix, the top scoring team in the CAA, showed why they are by scoring the first 10 points of the game on their way to a 23-5 lead after one quarter. While the Pride struggled from the field (2-14) in the first quarter, Elon sizzled, hitting on 9-15 from the field including 5-of-8 from the three-point line.

Hofstra got its legs in the second quarter, outscoring the Phoenix, 19-17 in the period, but not before Elon opened up their biggest lead of the half at 32-12 at the 6:08 mark on a three-pointer by Lexi Mercer. The Pride kept it from being a runaway behind 12 second-quarter points by E'Lexus Davis as Hofstra trailed at the break, 40-24. 

While both teams scored 14 points in the third quarter, the Phoenix opened the frame with a 12-7 spurt that gave Elon their biggest lead at 52-31 after a Powell jumper with 1:38 to play in the third. But the Pride responded with a 7-2 run over the last 68 seconds to trail 54-38 after three periods.

The Pride mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring Elon, 15-7 over the first 5:57 of the period to close to within eight at 61-53 after an Askin three-pointer. Askin had six points and Leon added five in the run. After Elon boosted the lead back to 12 at the 2:29 mark on two Johnson free throws, Hofstra closed to within five twice in the final 40 seconds, the latest at 70-65 on a Leon three-pointer, the Pride's seventh of the quarter, with 10 seconds remaining. Munford closed out the scoring two seconds later with two from the charity stripe for the 72-65 victory.
 
Hofstra returns to action on Sunday, when the Pride host the Tigers of Towson in a CAA game at the Mack Sports Complex. Game time is 2 p.m.

Notes
- Elon now leads the all-time series, 6-2 with their fourth consecutive victory over the Pride.
- Leon recorded her 16th game in double figures this season and the 34th of her career.
- Davis had her ninth double-figure scoring game of the year.
- Kalin tallied her seventh game in double-figures and the ninth of her career.
- The Pride hit a season-high 11 three-pointers and was 11-25 from the three-point line.