In Elon women’s basketball’s 77-69 loss to the College of Charleston Cougars, strategic positioning, discipline and physicality took center stage.
The game, which was pushed from a 7 p.m. to 6 p.m tip-off due to weather, was a rematch from earlier in the season, when Elon fell to Charleston 87-64. Charleston entered the game on a nine-game win streak, undefeated in the Coastal Athletic Association. The team is the best offensive, rebounding and three-point shooting team in the CAA.
Head coach Charlotte Smith said she wanted to present the Cougars with a 3-1-1 zone, which she said is unorthodox against a good shooting team.
“We felt like in a zone defense could stop a lot of the penetration and pain points,” Smith said. “They got too many points in the paint last time. Our game plan was to control it a little bit more this time around.”
Early on, the plan worked. The Phoenix locked down Charleston on defense and jumped to a 5-0 lead.
After a missed 3-pointer by the Cougars, a mishandle by senior Laila Anderson caused Elon’s first turnover of the game — a problem that would plague the Phoenix. Charleston profited, knocking down a corner three to get its first points on the board.
Despite the turbulence, Elon continued to play aggressively on offense. After senior Ruby Willard blitzed through Cougar players to grab an offensive rebound, freshman Ashanti Fox drilled a long 3-pointer to take a 20-11 lead.
That’s when Charleston’s defense took it up a notch.
The Cougars began to envelop the Phoenix with a physical, full-court defense. The tactic forced Elon to make multiple tough passes to advance the ball past half-court.
Elon’s offense struggled in response. Feeding off the energy, Charleston stormed back to tie the game 24-24 in the second quarter. The Phoenix then turned the ball over for three straight possessions.
It was a trend that continued. Elon ended the half with 16 turnovers. Head coach Charlotte Smith said it was a problem that could be managed, but only if the Phoenix played with confidence.
“You have to be confident,” Smith said. “I tell them basketball is a game of mistakes. You may make turnovers, but when you make turnovers and play fearful, that’s a double whammy.”
Elon’s offense evolved in the second half, only committing four turnovers for the rest of the game. Junior Maraja Pass and Anderson sliced through Charleston’s press, building momentum for the offense.
A 3-pointer and two free throws made by Anderson in quick succession cut the lead to 7. Her feisty attitude was contagious as Elon rallied back into the game.
“On offense and defense, she brings a lot of energy to us,” Smith said. “We know we can put her on our toughest opponent offensively. And you know she can get stops. She brings a lot of energy to our team.”
The energy on defense continued to support Elon, as the Phoenix caught the Cougars on their back heels for multiple transition layups.
Fox, who had a shaky start to the game, caught fire. She drained two consecutive three-point plays at the start of the fourth quarter, cutting Charleston’s lead to 57-56. Smith said Fox’s play shows her continuing growth in maturity.
“We’re trying to teach her resiliency and the next play mentality,” Smith said. “It’s still a work in progress. But that’s our job, to help them grow.”
Elon women's basketball rushes to senior Laila Anderson's aid after a physical foul at the rim.
The teams continued to battle in the fourth, but fouls by Elon kept giving Charleston opportunities at the free-throw line. The Cougars capitalized, carrying a 68-66 lead with two minutes to play.
That’s when sophomore LaNae Corbett was charged with a technical foul after complaining to a referee. According to Smith, it put the game out of reach.
Elon’s last-minute comeback fell short. Charleston escaped to maintain its undefeated conference record. Smith said more composure will help the team for the remainder of the season.
“We were right there,” Smith said. “We have to be more disciplined down the stretch.”
With the loss, Elon falls to a 9-11 record on the season, 4-4 in conference play. The Phoenix next play Towson University on Feb. 1 at home.