The loss closes out a season that saw the team repeat as CAA Tournament champions and earn a second-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Elon’s women’s basketball team suffered a tough loss to close out an exciting season as it fell to N.C. State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.
The first-round loss marked the end of a season that saw Elon repeat as Colonial Athletic Association tournament championships and earn a second-straight trip to the NCAA tournament with the country’s best teams.
N.C. State topped the Phoenix 62 to 35 at Reynolds Coliseum, N.C. State’s home court, after getting off to a fast start and continuing to build its lead throughout the game.
Led by starters Shay Burnett, Meme Garner, Malaya Johnson, Saadia Munford and Lexi Mercer, Elon trailed at halftime and was unable to close the gap during the second half.
Burnett, who this year earned a third-consecutive All-CAA nod, finished the game with 12 of the team’s 32 points and led the Phoenix in rebounds and assists as well.
Ten Phoenix players contributed points during the contest, but Elon was outrebounded and turned the ball over more than the Wolfpack.
Burnett and fellow senior Malaya Johnson closed out their careers with the Phoenix by joining the elite 1,000-point club, with Johnson and Ra’Shike White picking up Second Team All-CAA honors and Saadia Munford making the All-Rookie Team this season.
With the loss, Elon ends the season with a 25-8 record. The Phoenix came into Raleigh on Friday with an 13-game winning streak, and had a perfect 13-0 record at home in Alumni Gym this year for the first time since 1974.
It was the team’s final season in this historic arena, with the new Schar Center to open at Elon this fall.