Malaya Johnson had 13 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks in Elon's win over W&M.
No. 3 Elon Surges Past No. 6 William & Mary
Tim McDonnell
Championship Central | Box Score | Highlights | Photo Gallery | Sights & Sounds | Elon Postgame | William & Mary Postgame
PHILADELPHIA (March 8, 2018) – Senior
Malaya Johnson recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and also blocked seven shots, while classmate
Meme Garner and sophomore
Ra’Shika White both scored 12 points as third-seeded Elon outlasted No. 6 William & Mary, 67-50, to conclude the quarterfinal round of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Women’s Basketball Championship.
The defending champion Phoenix won their 11th-straight game, the program’s longest at the Division I level, and move on to square off with second-seeded James Madison in the semifinals on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. It will be a rematch of the 2017 title game which saw the Phoenix capture its first-ever CAA trophy, defeating the Dukes on their own home court.
White, who on Wednesday earned the inaugural CAA Sixth Player of the Year award, shot 5-of-8 from the field, while senior
Shay Burnett contributed 10 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.
The Tribe of William & Mary were fittingly led by impactful seniors
Abby Rendle and
Jenna Green in the setback and finish the year with a 16-14 mark. Rendle caps her career as the all-time single season CAA blocks leader (128) as well as the all-time career leader with 350. She led all players with 19 points and grabbed 10 boards, one block and two steals. Green, meanwhile, became the Tribe’s all-time career leader with 115 games started and 178 assists on the year – good for first among program single-season records. Green had seven points and dished out six helpers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In a defensive stalemate through the first two quarters, Elon’s balance helped it grab the early advantage and 30-19 halftime lead. The Tribe shot just 7-of-31 from the field as a squad in the first half, including 0-of-6 from 3-point range compared to 11-of-29 (1-for-10) for the Phoenix.
After a basket from W&M freshman
Nyla Pollard with 3:56 left before the break closed the Tribe’s deficit to 19-17, Elon finished the half with momentum following a quick, 11-2 run.
In the third quarter Elon limited W&M to 26.7 percent shooting, and then just 31.7 percent in the final period. The Tribe briefly cut the Phoenix lead to nine (46-37) with 7:31 to play, and then 58-49 with 1:23 showing on the clock, but each time Elon had the answers and never allowed the Green & Gold to get any closer.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Elon made its fourth CAA Championship appearance, and earned the No. 3 seed for the first time.
The Phoenix own consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time at the Division I level.
Elon leads the all-time series 10-4 and has won nine of the 10 meetings since the two teams became CAA rivals before the 2014-15 season.
William & Mary has made three quarterfinals appearances in the last four seasons.
William & Mary’s senior class –
Jeanne Gaumont, Jenna Green and
Abby Rendle are the winningest class in school history with 66 victories.
Elon’s bench outscored the Tribe, 19-8 in the contest.
Green finishes her career as William & Mary’s all-time assists leader with 531.