HAMPTON, Va. (Interstat) — The Elon Phoenix established dominance early and never relented, cruising to a 79-53 victory over the Hampton Pirates in a Colonial Athletic Association women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at the Convocation Center.

The most important part of the game was its inception. Elon seized control from the opening tip, using stifling defense and efficient offense to build an insurmountable lead in the first quarter. The Phoenix held Hampton to just nine points in each of the first two quarters, forcing 10 first-half turnovers and converting them into 15 points. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, Elon led 38-18, having never trailed and effectively deciding the contest in the first 20 minutes.

Elon guard Laila Anderson, a 5-foot-7 sophomore from Burlington, North Carolina, led all scorers with 22 points, adding four assists and three steals in 27 minutes. She set the tone with 10 first-quarter points, including a 3-pointer and a driving layup off a steal, as the Phoenix built a 18-9 lead after one period. Anderson’s performance continued a strong stretch, coming off games of 15, 21 and 13 points in her last three outings.

The Phoenix interior presence was overwhelming. Elon scored 44 points in the paint compared to Hampton’s 16 and outrebounded the Pirates 45-31. LaNae’ Corbett, a 6-foot forward from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, contributed 15 points, while 6-foot-2 forward Tamia Watkins of Kershaw, South Carolina, added 13 points. Quinzia Fulmore, a 6-foot-3 center from Greensboro, North Carolina, chipped in 10 points off the bench.

For Hampton, guard Kayla Lezama, a 6-foot sophomore from Boston, led the way with 21 points, two assists and a block in 34 minutes. Guard Kiarra Mcelrath of Columbus, Ohio, finished with 12 points and four assists. The Pirates showed more life after halftime, scoring 15 points in the third quarter and 20 in the fourth, but the deficit was too large to overcome. They were hampered by 18 turnovers, which Elon converted into 26 points.

Elon improved to 9-10 overall and evened its conference record. Hampton fell to 8-11. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for the Phoenix, who also defeated the Pirates 84-75 on Jan. 4 in Elon, North Carolina.

The game was a stark contrast to recent form for both teams. Elon entered having split its last two conference games, while Hampton had won two of its last three. The Phoenix, however, executed its game plan with precision from the outset, shooting a higher percentage from the field and from 3-point range while also excelling at the free-throw line.

Elon’s defense was particularly disruptive in the first half, holding Hampton to 7-of-28 shooting from the field. The Pirates missed their first five shots of the second quarter as Elon extended its lead to 24-9 on a 3-pointer by Ashlee Shaw. Anderson’s back-to-back assists on 3-pointers, one to Shaw and another to Corbett, pushed the lead to 30-11, and the margin never dipped below 17 points thereafter.

The Phoenix face a quick turnaround, hosting College of Charleston on Friday. Hampton travels to face UNC Wilmington on the same night.