East Carolina University
5-5,0-0American
Elon
3-5,0-0CAA
Pirates Down Elon, 64-53
December 07, 2025 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina women's basketball team bounced back with a 64-53 win over the Elon Phoenix on Sunday afternoon in Minges Coliseum. The Pirates were led by Taylor Barner's 21 points in the game.
The game got off to a slow start for both teams with 19 combined turnovers in the first quarter, including 11 by the Pirates (5-5) alone. Despite a lack of scoring, the hosts shared the ball well with seven players contributing points in the team's first 15 points of the game.
In the second quarter ECU used a defensive stretch of nearly four-and-a-half minutes holding Elon (3-5) scoreless to extend the lead. This allowed the team to lead by eight at the break, having made only eight field goals but assisting on six of them. Barner scored nine points in that second quarter, using her speed and slashing ability to score and get to the foul line where she made all of her seven attempts in the game.
Though they only scored 27 points in the first half, the Pirates finished the second quarter on an 8-2 run and pushed their margin to eight. 19 points allowed at the break were the fewest for an ECU opponent since allowing just 17 against North Texas on Feb. 22, 2025.
After the halftime break, the teams played much of the third quarter on level footing, which benefited the already-leading Pirates. Both sides scored 16 points in the period with Elon having what could have been a decisive run salvaged by nine points from Lanae' Corbett.
Into the fourth quarter, the Pirates were finally able to throw the knockout punch. ECU turned to some pressing defense and were able to get out in transition, going up by double digits for the first time in the game with 7:54 remaining in the game and forcing an Elon timeout.
East Carolina took over from there, using a run of five made field goals in six attempts to grow the lead all the way to 19. That period of success finished with an 10-0 run and was highlighted by some brilliant defensive work in an inspired effort by senior Bobbi Smith who may not have made her mark too much on the stat sheet but made her presence felt. Smith did finish the day with six points, three rebounds, four assists and one block and one steal.
Elon turned the ball over 25 times in the game, the eighth time in 10 games this season in which ECU has forced 20-or-more turnovers.
Up Next
The Pirates return home next Sunday as they host UNC Asheville for a 4 p.m. contest.
