Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra women's basketball team fought and battled in a tough Colonial Athletic Association game against Elon, but the Phoenix prevailed over the Pride by a final score of 62-58 at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex.

Jaylen Hines scored a season-high 19 points, while Selma Markisic added nine. Hines and Zyheima Swint tied for the team lead with seven rebounds, and Jahsyni Knight and Maniya Custis dished out four assists each. Knight led the Pride with four of the team's nine steals.

The Pride (3-10, 0-5 CAA) got the scoring started off a fast-break layup from Knight, and the teams traded baskets for the final seven minutes of the quarter. The Pride fell behind 8-6 with 3:29 remaining in the frame before Hines scored three of the next five Hofstra points to put the hosts up by three with 1:31 remaining. Elon scored on a layup with 22 seconds remaining to end the first quarter with Hofstra holding on to a one-point lead.

The Phoenix (10-5, 2-3 CAA) retook the lead with a Brie Perpignan three-pointer to start the second half and upped their lead to four before Hines finished off a layup attempt to make it a one-point contest, and Markisic drained a three to give Hofstra a one-point lead before the first media timeout of the second quarter. The nine-point scoring run continued with a steal-and-score from Knight and a Hines layup before Elon responded with a three-point basket at 5:58. The teams battled throughout the quarter, with Hofstra never losing its lead despite Elon coming within one point twice during the tail end of the second. The Pride's defense prevented Elon from scoring any points in the final two minutes and forced three Phoenix turnovers as Hofstra carried a 26-25 lead into the break.

Elon took a four-point lead with eight of the first 11 points to start the third quarter, but the Pride battled back and tied the score at 38-38 with baskets by Custis and Hines before a pair of Swint free throws put the Pride up by two with three minutes to go in the quarter. Elon retook the lead with eight of the next 10 points in the in the final 2:35 of the quarter, but Custis reduced the deficit to two going into the final quarter.

Trailing by two with 5:46 left in the fourth quarter, Knight drove to the basket and scored a big layup to tie the game at 50-50, and Markisic gave the hosts the lead thanks to a gritty layup with 5:08 left in the game. The Phoenix closed out the game with seven of the final 11 points of the contest to close out the game.

Kayla Liles led all led all players with 23 points and chipped in seven rebounds and five steals for the Phoenix. Perpignan finished with 22 points, four assists and four rebounds for the visitors in today's game.

Hofstra returns to the court on January 28 at James Madison. The start time for next Friday's contest is 7 p.m. from the Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 3-13 all-time versus Elon.
-This was Hofstra's first game against Elon since the First Round of the 2020 CAA Women's Basketball Championship.
-Hofstra finished with a 36-30 rebounding advantage over Elon.