Joneiqua Gary came off the bench to score a career-high 23 points to lead five players in double figures as Mount Olive remained unbeaten with a 100-63 victory over North Greenville in Conference Carolinas women's basketball Monday at Kornegay Arena.
Gary, who missed the team's first two games recovering from a preseason injury, provided the Trojans (3-0 overall, 2-0 CC) with an immediate spark. Her three-pointer with 13:16 left in the first half gave Mount Olive a 20-2 advantage. North Greenville (0-4, 0-2) got as close as eight with just under four minutes remaining, but Mount Olive held the Crusaders to 2-for-8 shooting the rest of the half to pull away again.
Seven of the Trojans who played before intermission got in the scoring column.
In the second half, North Greenville was still within 11 when Mount Olive put the game away with its second 20-2 run of the contest. Freshman Anamaria Zjacic scored six of her career-high 19 points to start the outburst and Gary added her fourth three-pointer.
The Trojans surpassed the 100-point plateau on a free throw by Kirksten Mitchell with 13 seconds remaining. Mount Olive shot 52 percent from the field in the contest and won the rebounding battle 56-24. The Trojans finished with as many offensive rebounds as the Crusaders had in all.
Tamara Nesmith and Alyssa Luebs finished the game with double-doubles. Nesmith finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Luebs posted season-highs of 12 points and 15 boards. Jasmine McDonald just missed a double-double, finishing with six points and a career-high 12 assists.
Nesmith added seven assists. In the end, Mount Olive recorded 30 assists on 38 made baskets.
The Trojans return to action after the Thanksgiving break when King College comes to Kornegay November 27 for a Conference Carolinas contest. The women's contest will start at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.