PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Amaris Baker scored a game-high 27 points and Drexel used a decisive third-quarter surge to hold off a late Elon rally for a 68-59 victory in a Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball game Friday night at Daskalakis Athletic Center.

The Dragons, improving to 15-8 overall, maintained control of the conference race by overcoming a spirited fourth-quarter charge from the Phoenix, who fell to 11-13.

The most critical phase of the contest came in the third quarter, where Drexel transformed a narrow 31-22 halftime advantage into a commanding lead. The Dragons outscored Elon 22-14 in the period, methodically extending their margin. Baker, a 5-foot-7 guard from Philadelphia, was instrumental, scoring nine points in the quarter as part of her efficient night. Her back-to-back free throws with 33 seconds left in the third pushed the Drexel lead to 53-36, capping a stretch where the Dragons seemed to seize full control.

Elon refused to capitulate, mounting a furious comeback attempt in the final frame. The Phoenix exploded for 23 fourth-quarter points, nearly doubling their output from any other period. A 9-0 run, fueled by Tamia Watkins and capped by a Tyana Walker 3-pointer, cut a 17-point deficit down to 56-53 with just over six minutes remaining. The Phoenix defense forced several Drexel turnovers during the spurt, injecting sudden tension into the previously comfortable Drexel advantage.

Drexel responded to the threat with crucial plays from its veterans. Following an Elon timeout, Laine McGurk of West Chester, Pennsylvania, sank a critical 3-pointer off an assist from Grace O’Neill to steady the Dragons at 59-53. Baker then took over, scoring on a driving layup and drawing fouls to convert at the free-throw line. Her layup with 34 seconds left gave Drexel a 65-63 lead, and she iced the game by making five of six free throws in the final 13 seconds to secure the nine-point win.

Watkins led Elon with 16 points, four assists and a blocked shot in 33 minutes. The 6-foot-2 forward from Kershaw, South Carolina, was central to the Phoenix’s late surge. Walker added nine points, while Ashanti Fox contributed eight. Elon’s effort was hampered by early offensive struggles, scoring only eight points in the opening quarter and shooting under 35% from the field for the game.

Drexel’s victory was a balanced effort behind Baker’s standout performance. Deja Evans, a 6-foot-2 forward from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, recorded a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, along with a block. McGurk finished with nine points, and O’Neill, also from West Chester, chipped in seven points and four assists. The Dragons dominated the glass, outrebounding Elon 45-33, which led to 15 second-chance points.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with Drexel leading 15-8 after one quarter. Elon found slightly more rhythm in the second but still trailed by nine at the intermission. The Dragons’ third-quarter explosion appeared to put the game out of reach before Elon’s resilient final push.

A crowd of 335 at the Daskalakis Athletic Center saw Drexel win its second straight and solidify its position atop the CAA standings. Elon, despite the loss, has won three of its last five games. The Phoenix will look to rebound at home against Campbell next Friday. Drexel continues its conference schedule with a road game at Hampton the same night.