GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — A dominant fourth-quarter surge propelled the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team to a 67-61 comeback victory over Elon on Friday night at Corbett Sports Center, avenging a loss from two weeks prior.

In a game defined by runs and resilience, the Aggies outscored the Phoenix 23-12 in the final period, erasing a deficit that had lingered for over 30 minutes of game time. The win improved North Carolina A&T to 9-12 overall, while Elon fell to 10-12.

The contest was a defensive struggle for three quarters, with neither team able to establish a commanding lead. Elon, leveraging a balanced offensive attack, held a narrow 34-28 advantage at halftime. The Phoenix maintained their composure through the third quarter, taking a 49-44 lead into the final 10 minutes behind the steady play of Laila Anderson, who finished with 14 points.

The decisive shift came as the fourth quarter unfolded. With the score tied at 56 and just over five minutes remaining, North Carolina A&T embarked on a critical 9-0 run that ultimately sealed the game. The spurt was fueled by defensive stops and key contributions from multiple players. Paris Locke, who played all 40 minutes and tallied 14 points and four assists, orchestrated the offense, while Darrionna Howard provided a crucial interior presence, scoring 12 points and grabbing key rebounds.

Elon, which had won the previous meeting 67-60 on its home floor on Jan. 23, found its offense stagnating against an intensified Aggie defense. The Phoenix committed several costly turnovers in the closing minutes and were held without a field goal for a stretch of over four minutes during the Aggies’ pivotal run.

Ashanti Fox led Elon with 13 points, and Tamia Watkins added 12, but the Phoenix could not match North Carolina A&T’s late-game execution. The Aggies capitalized at the free-throw line down the stretch, making 11 of 14 attempts in the fourth quarter to protect their lead.

Beyond Locke and Howard, North Carolina A&T received significant production from Crystal Hardy, who scored 12 points, and Anaya Karriem, who added 10 points off the bench. The Aggies also won the battle in the paint, outscoring Elon 26-22, and turned 15 Elon turnovers into 15 points.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably North Carolina A&T’s fourth-quarter transformation. After trailing for the entirety of the first three quarters and struggling to find consistent offensive flow, the Aggies displayed remarkable poise and defensive tenacity when it mattered most. Their 23-point quarter nearly matched their entire first-half output and was powered by a collective effort that saw them shoot efficiently from the field and capitalize on Elon’s mistakes. This closing surge not only secured the victory but also demonstrated a resilience that had been missing in the teams’ prior matchup.

The announced attendance was 1,014. Both teams return to action on Sunday, with North Carolina A&T traveling to face Campbell and Elon hosting William & Mary.