ELON, N.C. (Interstat) — The Elon Phoenix used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from the Northeastern Huskies and secure a 70-57 victory in a Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball game Sunday at Schar Center.

The game, a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions, was effectively decided by a 17-2 Elon run spanning the final five minutes of the third quarter. That stretch transformed a narrow four-point contest into a comfortable 19-point Phoenix advantage, a deficit from which Northeastern could not recover.

Elon improved to 13-13 overall and evened its conference record, demonstrating the form that has seen it win five of its last seven outings. Northeastern, meanwhile, dropped its second straight and fell to 7-18 on the season, continuing a campaign defined by narrow defeats and offensive struggles.

The first half was a sloppy, tightly contested affair defined more by turnovers and missed opportunities than fluid offense. Both teams combined for 30 first-half turnovers, stifling any chance for rhythm. Northeastern managed to stay within striking distance largely due to its work inside, scoring 20 of its 26 first-half points in the paint. Justice Tramble, the Huskies’ standout forward from Canton, Michigan, led the early effort with eight points.

Elon, despite its own ball-handling issues, found just enough scoring from its backcourt. Kamryn Doty of Tucson, Arizona, hit two first-half three-pointers on her way to 11 points for the game, while fellow guard Ashanti Fox of Vass, North Carolina, added seven before halftime. The Phoenix took a 33-26 lead into the intermission, but the outcome was far from certain.

The critical juncture arrived late in the third quarter. With Elon leading 41-35, the Phoenix unleashed the game-defining run. It began with a three-pointer from Doty, her third of the afternoon, off an assist from Samira Khalil. After a Northeastern miss, Doty struck again, draining another three-pointer, this time set up by Fox. Quinzia Fulmore, Elon’s 6-foot-3 post player from Greensboro, North Carolina, then took over, scoring on a layup and drawing a foul on the next possession. Fox capped the explosive sequence with a pull-up jumper, giving Elon a commanding 50-37 lead with under two minutes left in the period.

The Huskies, who shot just 37% from the field for the game and a paltry 20% from three-point range, had no offensive answer. Their offensive rating of 79.7 points per 100 possessions underscored a day of inefficiency, as they scored only eight points off 16 Elon turnovers. Conversely, the Phoenix capitalized more effectively on Northeastern’s 14 giveaways, generating 15 points off turnovers.

Fulmore finished as the game’s leading scorer with 12 points in just 23 minutes, showcasing efficient interior play. Doty and Fox each contributed 11 points, while point guard Maraja Pass of Shelby, North Carolina, directed the offense with four assists and eight points. Laila Anderson of Burlington, North Carolina, provided a significant boost off the bench with six rebounds and active defense.

For Northeastern, Tramble led the way with 12 points. Guard Yirsy Quéliz of the Dominican Republic added nine points, and Spanish guard Maria Sánchez Pitarch chipped in eight. The Huskies’ effort on the glass, where they were outrebounded 38-30, and their inability to connect from the perimeter ultimately sealed their fate.

Elon’s victory was a product of timely outside shooting and a lockdown defensive effort when it mattered most. The Phoenix shot 35% from three-point range and an efficient 49% from the field overall, with an offensive rating of 103.3. Their third-quarter explosion proved insurmountable for a Northeastern team that has now lost 10 of its last 13 games.

The Phoenix look to continue their push toward the .500 mark in conference play when they travel to face Hofstra on Friday. Northeastern, seeking to halt its slide, will visit Drexel on the same night.