CHARLOTTE AMALIE WEST, U.S. Virgin Islands (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant second-quarter surge and a relentless defensive effort, the Elon Phoenix women’s basketball team secured a 65-57 victory over the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Friday at the U.V.I. Sports and Fitness Center.

The non-conference matchup saw Elon improve its season record to 3-4, while North Dakota fell to 1-7.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. North Dakota held a 15-7 lead after the first quarter, capitalizing on early Elon shooting woes. The momentum, however, shifted dramatically in the second period.

Elon exploded for 28 points in the quarter, overwhelming the Fighting Hawks with a 21-4 run that turned the eight-point deficit into a commanding lead. The Phoenix defense was the catalyst, forcing a series of North Dakota turnovers and converting them into easy transition baskets. By halftime, Elon had built a 35-24 advantage.

The third quarter belonged to North Dakota, specifically guard Mackenzie Hughes. The Fighting Hawks chipped away at the lead, outscoring Elon 17-8 in the period. Hughes was instrumental in the comeback attempt, scoring from multiple levels as North Dakota closed the gap to just two points heading into the final quarter.

Elon regained its composure in the fourth, stabilizing its offense and making key defensive stops to pull away for the eight-point win. The Phoenix scored 22 points in the final period to seal the victory.

A decisive factor in the game was Elon’s ability to capitalize on North Dakota’s mistakes. The Phoenix scored 23 points off 24 Fighting Hawks turnovers, while North Dakota managed only 11 points off Elon’s 13 giveaways. Elon also dominated inside, outscoring North Dakota 28-18 in the paint.

Despite shooting just 37.9 percent from the field, Elon’s volume of opportunities, fueled by 10 offensive rebounds, proved sufficient. North Dakota was more efficient from the floor at 45.9 percent but attempted 29 fewer shots, a direct result of their turnover problems.

North Dakota was led by a strong performance from Walker Demers, who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds to go with two blocks. Mackenzie Hughes led all scorers with 17 points, while Ava Miller added 9 points and 8 rebounds.

Elon’s attack was more balanced. Tamia Watkins provided a significant spark off the bench with 11 points and 7 rebounds in just 16 minutes of play. Maraja Pass also scored 9 points, including a critical three-pointer in the fourth quarter, while LaNae’ Corbett and Quinzia Fulmore each added 8 points. Fulmore also contributed 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

The game was part of a multi-team event in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Elon will look to build on the win when it travels to face East Carolina on Dec. 7. North Dakota returns home to host Montana on Dec. 3.