WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Junior guard Ariel Colon scored a game-high 21 points, including 15 in the second half, as Elon held off UNCW to secure a 60-57 Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball victory at Trask Coliseum on Friday evening.
 
The Phoenix, which completed a sweep of the regular season series over UNCW, upped its record to 10-11 overall and 5-5 in the CAA. The Seahawks dropped to 6-15 overall and 3-7 in league play following their sixth loss in the last seven games.
 
Colon, who posted her sixth straight double-digit effort, made 6-of-12 shots from the field, including a 2-for-3 showing from three-point range, while connecting on 7-of-9 free throws. She also grabbed six rebounds in the victory.
 
Sophomore guard Kayla Liles chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds for the Phoenix. The Owings Mills, Md., product converted 5-of-8 field goal attempts along with both of her foul shots.
 
UNCW, playing its first home game in 19 days, was led by redshirt senior guard GiGi Smith's 15 points while senior guard Ahyiona Vason added 12 points. Junior forward Carol-Anne Obusek tallied seven points with a team-high seven rebounds and a game-high five blocked shots.
 
Key Moment: Trailing by a 53-48 margin with 4:28 remaining, Elon scored 10 of the next 12 points, including seven points from Colon, to take a 58-55 lead with 36.5 seconds left. UNCW trimmed the margin to 58-57 on a Vason layup with 28.1 seconds on the clock, but the Phoenix went 2-for-4 at the free throw line to seal the verdict.
 
Game Notes:

• Elon improved to 13-7 in the all-time series against UNCW, including a 9-2 mark in the last 11 pairings … The Phoenix has swept the regular season series in four of the last five years.
• UNCW played its fourth straight game decided by four points or less … The Seahawks dropped to 1-7 this season in games decided by four points or less.
• The Seahawks scored 32 points in the paint against the Phoenix, marking the sixth time in the last eight games they have posted at least 30 points in the paint.
• Obusek, who matched her career high with five blocked shots, has tallied 15 rejections in the last five games … The Cary, N.C., native leads the Seahawks with 23 blocked shots in 21 games this year.
• Vason has scored in double figures in four consecutive games after her 12-point performance … She is averaging 13.0 points per game during the streak.
• Smith recorded her 17th double-digit scoring effort of the year and led the Seahawks in scoring for the 13th time this season.
• The Phoenix outrebounded UNCW by a 41-33 margin.
• UNCW and Elon combined to record just eight assists on 42 made field goals.  

Up Next: UNCW welcomes long-time CAA foe William & Mary to Trask Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 9, for a 2 p.m. matinee. The Seahawks will hold a jersey retirement ceremony for Sheila Boles at halftime.  

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