ELON, N.C. — Junior guard Rodneysha Martin scored a game-high 19 points and sophomore forward Paulina Afriyie tallied her second straight double-double for visiting North Carolina Central University in a 78-50 loss at mid-major nationally ranked Elon University Tuesday evening in Alumni Gymnasium.
 
The Phoenix outscored the Eagles 45-26 in the first half and then traded baskets in a pretty level second half to prevail by 28. Elon (8-3 Overall) – ranked No. 6 for a fourth consecutive week in the current CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top-25 Poll that was released just before tipoff – is a perfect 4-0 at home.
 
Martin was 9-for-16 from the field (56.3%) on her way to 19 points. Martin, who has scored in double figures in eight games, also made a team-high four steals.
 
Afriyie continued her string of strong play. She reached the 10-plus point plateau for a third consecutive contest with 12 points. She also corralled a season-high 12 boards for her second double-double.
 
The Eagles held Elon scoreless for the first three minutes and 12 seconds and grabbed an early 5-nil advantage on a fast-break layup by Martin and a three-pointer by junior Sami Oliver-Alexander.
 
The Phoenix answered with the next 14 points to slingshot ahead for good. The rally featured eight points by sophomore guard Jada Graves. Elon led 26-12 after the first quarter and 45-26 at halftime.
 
Sophomore center Ra'Shika White had 19 points in the books in the first half, helping the Phoenix shoot 58.6% from the field over the first 20 minutes. White was held scoreless in the second half, but still matched NCCU's Martin for game-high honors.
 
Elon began the second half up 19 points and the Eagles never got any closer the two teams trading baskets in the third quarter. However, NCCU was held to just one made field goal in the fourth quarter, pushing Elon's final margin of victory to 28 points.
 
Afriyie's 12 rebounds – the most by any NCCU rebounder this season – and seven boards by freshman Alyssa Thompson helped the Eagles match Elon with 38 team rebounds apiece. The level play on the glass is noteworthy with the Phoenix entering the game ranked in the top-10 of NCAA Division I with a +13.0 rebounding margin.
 
Thompson and juniors Caira Benton and Dominique Adams all scored four points.
 
Elon had four players score in double digits. White scored her 19 points on 7-of-10 precision from the floor. Senior Malaya Johnson swished 14 points while Graves freshman Jaylin Powell each tossed in 12. Graves added seven steals on 32 NCCU turnovers and freshman Saadia Munford contributed 10 assists.
 
NCCU (2-9) will play its first and only home game in December on Thursday when the Eagles host Campbell University at 2 p.m.