ELON, N.C. - After a hot start to Friday night's contest against Elon (4-1, 0-0), UNCG women's basketball (1-6, 0-0) was outlasted by the hosting Phoenix in a 58-40 loss at the Schar Center.

The Spartans' offense came ready to play, thanks in part to senior guards Tori Powell and CeCe Crudup. Crudup started the opening period 3-for-4 shooting, benefiting from an assist from Powell who had a bucket of her own. UNCG's defense held their hosts to 0-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc in the first 10 minutes, enough to hold the Phoenix to just six points and claim a 13-6 lead going into the second.

Powell added another pair of layups through contact in the second quarter but the Spartans' offensive production began to dry up as Elon began to ramp up its intensity on the defensive end. Sitting 15th in the nation in turnovers forced per game (23.3), the Phoenix forced the Spartans to cough up the ball six times in the second period, pouring in 16 of their own to take a 22-21 margin before the halftime break. 

The Spartans traded blows with Elon in the early goings of the second half, but the Phoenix would get hot in the third quarter, finishing the third term 7-of-12 from the floor to increase their lead 40-30. 

Crudup added six in the third as she and Powell combined for nine of their team's 19 points in the final 20 minutes. The former finished with a game-high of 12 points and six rebounds in the 58-40 loss. 

>> Freshman Khalis Cain has made an immediate impact since becoming a regular in coach Patterson's starting five. The forward pulled down a game-high and career best 12 rebounds while contributing three blocks and four points
>> The Spartans outrebounded the Phoenix 41-39, pulling down 15 offensive boards. Six of those belonged to Cain
>> Powell contributed three steals on the offensive end, adding a pair of boards

#letsgoG