ELON, N.C. – A pair of freshmen in Diamond Thomas and Nia Ford led the North Carolina Central University women's basketball team in a 73-51 non-conference road loss at Elon University Monday night.
 
Thomas paced the Eagles for a second straight game with 16 points, including a trio of treys. Ford followed with a season-high 11 points, making five of her seven field goal attempts.
 
The Phoenix held NCCU without a made field goal for the first seven and a half minutes of the second quarter to rally from an early deficit and secure victory. Elon improved to 5-1 on the season, including a perfect 3-0 in the Schar Center.
 
Thomas scored eight straight NCCU points as the Eagles flew out to an early 12-7 advantage. Elon briefly regained a 13-12 edge on two consecutive 3-pointers by senior Ariana Nance, but Ford cashed in on her own 3-pointer in the final seconds to provide NCCU with a 15-13 lead after 10 minutes of play.
 
However, the Eagles missed their first 10 field goal attempts of the second quarter and committed five turnovers over that span. The Phoenix started the period on a 16-1 run and then never relinquished the lead from that point. Thomas ended the drought with NCCU's first made shot from the floor in the second quarter at the 2:26 mark and then Ford added a couple more baskets late to inch the Eagles within 10, but Elon converted on two late free throws to lead 34-22 at halftime.
 
The Phoenix, who did not shoot a free throw in the first quarter, went 11-of-12 (91.7%) from the charity stripe in the second quarter to help secure their dozen point cushion at the midway point. Elon finished the contest with 20 free throw attempts compared to just eight by the Eagles.
 
Sophomore Tianna Carter scored all seven of her points in the early stages of the third quarter, including a made 3-pointer four minutes into the period to keep NCCU within striking distance at 43-31. Elon responded with eight straight points to extend the lead to 20 points. The two teams traded points for the remainder of the quarter and the Phoenix continued to lead by that same margin, 58-38, heading into the fourth quarter. The hosts remained comfortably ahead over the final 10 minutes before prevailing by 22 points.
 
Senior Brie Perpignan, a Preseason All-CAA selection, led the victors with 17 points and nine assists. Nance followed with 13 points. Sophomore Ajia James pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds as Elon controlled the glass 45-36.
 
Senior Necole Hope reached double-digit points for a third straight contest with 10 points. Hope also topped the maroon and gray with seven rebounds. Junior Kira Lowery and sophomore Paris McBride each contributed five assists. Carter added three steals and five rebounds to her seven points.
 
The Eagles shot 32.3-percent from the field while Elon fired at a 41.4-percent clip. The Phoenix also made nine 3-pointers and held NCCU to just five made trifectas.
 
NC Central (0-6) next plays at East Carolina University on Monday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.