The Elon University women’s basketball team defeated in-state and Southern Conference rival University of North Carolina at Greensboro 71-60 Monday night.

The win brings the Phoenix back over the .500 mark. Elon senior guard Ali Ford led the way with a game-high 21 points with five three-pointers, despite starting of the game 0-for-6 from the field.

The Phoenix had two others in double figures including junior guard Kelsey Harris, who had a double-double racking up 14 points and 10 rebounds, and senior forward Kelsey Evans, who narrowly missed a double-double of her own by adding 12 points and nine rebounds.

Junior forward Janae’ Stevenson led the Spartans with 17 points and 14 boards. Freshman guard Lucy Mason added 12 points of her own.

The Phoenix got off to a slow start and key players such as Ford were forced to the bench early with foul trouble.

“The first half was dictated by foul trouble and (UNCG) forcing us out of our gameplan,” Ford said.

The Spartans were able to stretch their lead to as many as 10 points with 3:43 left in the first half. However, an 8-0 run led by Harris cut the lead to just two points at halftime.

Ford then hit a three to start the second half to give Elon their first lead of the game. Phoenix head coach Charlotte Smith felt the team was “extremely focused in the second half both offensively and defensively.”

Teams exchanged baskets for the first part of the second half, until sophomore center Shannon Cochraham's lay-up sparked an 11-0 run putting the Phoenix up 54-43. This was a lead that Elon wouldn’t surrender for the rest of the game. Despite late pushes by the Spartans, Elon was able to fend off each and every comeback attempt and came out on-top.

The Phoenix defense stepped up their defense in the second half holding UNCG to only 21 percent shooting in the second half and 30 percent for the game.  The Spartans failed to make a single three-pointer in the second half.

The victory Monday night was Elon’s fourth consecutive win in conference play.

“If we keep play defense, and keep playing with energy then nobody can beat us but ourselves,” Harris said on winning four straight games.

Despite the fast start in the conference season coach Smith urged the team to remain modest and “to not be overconfident…(but) to remain confident and hungry, and to understand that every night is going to be a battle. ”

With the win, Elon improved to 8-7 on the year and 5-1 in the SoCon. The loss put UNCG at 3-12 overall and the Spartans remained winless in the conference play at 0-6.

The women’s next game comes is at 7 p.m. Friday night against Furman in Alumni Gym.