Joneiqua Gary scored 20 points as the University of Mount Olive won 78-53 over King University in Conference Carolinas women's basketball Saturday night in Bristol, Tenn.
Gary got the Trojans started in the first half as she knocked down a three-pointer and Mount Olive (14-7 Overall, 9-4 Conference Carolinas) never looked back.
After Stephanie Brantley's jumper, Mount Olive went on an 8-0 run to put them up by nine. The Trojans steadily built upon their lead as it grew to as large as 17 with Katie Paschal's jumper with 11:10 in the first half.
Both teams went on a three minute cold streak as neither team found the bottom of the net. Gary hit another three-pointer to break the scoring drought and put Mount Olive up 20. The Trojans' lead grew to as large as 21 in the first half.
The second half saw much of the same as Mount Olive controlled the rest of the game as the lead grew to 27 and never fell below 12. The Tornado managed only one run early in the second half as Tia Keitt's jumper with 17:45 began an 8-2 run to bring the Trojan lead down to 12 the lowest it got in the second half.
Another three-pointer by Gary with 14:57 put Mount Olive up 15 and secured the cushioned lead.
Gary led all scorers for Mount Olive with 20 points. Paschal added 18 points. Jasmine McDonald finished with a double-double 15 points and 17 rebounds. Ty Wallace finished one board shy of a double-double 11 points and nine rebounds.
Kelly Jackson finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for King.
The win is the sixth straight for Mount Olive and they even the season series 1-1. Last time out the Trojans lost 67-57 in Kornegay Arena to King. The Trojans return to action Wednesday as the travel to Belmont Abbey tip-off set for 5:30 p.m. in Belmont, N.C.