Elon, NC – A 20-12 third quarter helped push Elon past the Hofstra women's basketball team in a 70-51 win for the Phoenix over the visiting Pride from the Schar Center.
 
Hofstra's loss drops them to 8-8 overall and 3-2 in the Coastal Athletic Association, and Elon improves to 10-6 and 4-1 in league play.
 
Ramatoulaye Keita finished the game with a career-high 15 points against Elon plus six rebounds and a pair of steals, while Chloe Sterling chipped in 12 points for the Pride. Keita and Zyheima Swint tied for the team-lead with six rebounds apiece.
 
Hofstra led by two at several points early in the first quarter, as the Pride would score a basket before Elon responded with points of their own. A jumper from Maddie Pounds at 5:05 gave Hofstra the lead, but Elon went ahead with the next four points of the game to lead by two at 3:41. Swint evened the score with a tough second-chance layup on Hofstra's next possession, but Jayda Angel gave Elon the lead right back with a three at 3:13. Emma Von Essen connected on a three of her own at 2:58, and Keita gave the Pride a two-point lead with a fast break layup at 2:22. Elon ended the quarter with a layup and two free throws to take a 15-13 lead over Hofstra.
 
A layup by Elon's Raven Preston gave the hosts a four-point lead, but Swint converted a layup and the and-one to bring the Pride back to within one. Micaela Carter knocked down a three at 7:56 after Preston sunk a three of her own to put the deficit back at one point, but Elon scored five of the next six points to lead by five with 5:48 remaining in the quarter. Janaia Fargo brought the Pride to within two with a made three at 4:12, but Elon's lead increased back to five with a two from Hannah Dereje at 2:54 and a free throw. Hofstra came to within one on layups by Keita and Sabrina Larsson inside the final minute, but Preston connected on a three with 11 seconds remaining to give Elon a four-point lead at halftime.
 
Elon scored six of the first eight points of the third quarter to lead by eight before Hofstra cut the lead to two thanks to a three-point play by Sterling and an open three by Ema Karim. Elon ended Hofstra's run with a Preston bucket at 5:01, but Sterling responded on Hofstra's next possession with a driving layup prior to the media timeout at 4:31. It would be the closest Hofstra would get to retaking the lead over Elon, as the hosts scored eight unanswered points to grow the lead to 10. Elon scored another four points after a Pounds free throw to lead by 13, and a Keita free throw set the Pride down 12 heading into the fourth. Elon outscored Hofstra, 17-10, in the fourth quarter to seal the 19-point win.
 
Raven Preston led all players with 16 points and 10 rebounds as one of four Phoenix players to finish with double-digits.
 
Hofstra returns to the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex for its next pair of CAA home games, beginning on Friday, January 24, against Campbell. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. For ticket information, visit HofstraTickets.com, call (516) HOF-TIXX, or visit the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office in the lobby of the Mack Sports Complex during normal business hours. 
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra's all-time record now sits at 4-17 against Elon. The Phoenix have won eight of the last nine contests versus Hofstra.
-Elon outrebounded (38-24) and outshot Hofstra (50%-39.2%).