ELON, N.C. (Interstat) — The College of Charleston women’s basketball team used a dominant second-quarter surge and a stellar performance from Taryn Barbot to secure a 77-69 victory over Elon on Friday night at Schar Center, sweeping the Colonial Athletic Association season series.

In a game defined by defensive pressure and critical runs, the Cougars improved to 17-3 overall and strengthened their position atop the conference. Elon fell to 9-11.

The most pivotal stretch of the contest came in the second quarter. After a fast-paced opening period that saw Elon take a 22-17 lead behind early three-pointers from Laila Anderson and Tyana Walker, the Cougars flipped the game with a suffocating defensive effort. Charleston held the Phoenix to just eight points in the second quarter, forcing eight turnovers during the frame.

Charleston’s offense, which had struggled to find consistency early, ignited with a 23-point quarter. The run was fueled by Barbot’s playmaking and timely contributions from the bench. A steal and layup by Barbot capped a 9-0 run to give Charleston its first lead since the opening minutes. Jami Hill, who played only nine minutes, provided a crucial spark with a three-pointer and a layup during the surge. By halftime, the Cougars had transformed a five-point deficit into a 40-30 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish.

Elon, led by Anderson’s game-high 19 points, made several pushes in the second half. The Phoenix cut the lead to six points late in the third quarter and again to seven in the final minutes of the fourth, but each time Charleston had an answer, often from the free-throw line. The Cougars were efficient at the stripe, making 23 of 26 attempts, while Elon was nearly perfect but attempted fewer, making 15 of 17.

Barbot, a 5-foot-10 guard from Floral Park, New York, was the engine for Charleston, finishing with 25 points and seven assists in 39 minutes. She consistently broke down Elon’s defense, drew fouls, and orchestrated the offense, adding six steals in a complete performance. Her backcourt mate, Taylor Barbot, added eight points and three assists.

Tyja Beans provided vital support with 12 points, including two key three-pointers in the second half to blunt Elon rallies. Sophia Tougas also scored 12 points, all from beyond the arc, helping Charleston finish 12 of 34 from three-point range.

For Elon, Anderson’s 19 points led the way, with Ashanti Fox adding 12 and LaNae’ Corbett contributing 11. The Phoenix were hampered by 20 turnovers, which Charleston converted into 16 steals and a 16-5 advantage in assists. Elon’s offense was further stifled by a 6-for-22 performance from three-point distance.

Despite shooting just 32.3% from the field overall, Charleston’s offensive rating of 105.0 outpaced Elon’s 93.1, a testament to the Cougars’ ability to generate extra possessions through 16 offensive rebounds and Elon’s turnovers.

The win marks Charleston’s fourth straight victory and its second over Elon in less than two weeks, having defeated the Phoenix 87-64 on Jan. 18. The Cougars continue their road trip with a visit to Campbell on Sunday. Elon looks to rebound at home against Towson, also on Sunday.