Cold Shooting Plagues Trojans In 51-37 Loss To UNC Pembroke

Cold Shooting Plagues Trojans In 51-37 Loss To UNC Pembroke

Cold shooting plagued University of Mount Olive throughout the game as the Trojans fell to UNC Pembroke 51-37 in non-conference women's basketball Saturday at Kornegay Arena. The Trojans were limited to 16.1 percent (9-for-56) from the field and went 12-for-25 from the free throw line.

Mount Olive (2-2) went scoreless for the first four minutes of the game and did not hit a field goal until Ni'ya Styles' step-back three-pointer with 13:53 left in the first half cut UNC Pembroke's lead to 9-4. The Trojans got as close as 14-10 after a pair of Gabby Griffin free throws with 10:25 left, but the Trojans went on another field goal drought as the Braves built the lead to double digits.

Kierra Haney hit two free throws and Ashley McCray converted a Trojan turnover to give UNC Pembroke a 25-12 lead with 4:35 left before halftime. Rachel Fehl hit a three-pointer from the top of the key for Mount Olive, but the Trojans would be limited to a pair of Ty Wallace free throws in the final minute and go into the locker room trailing 30-17 at the break.

UNC Pembroke (1-1) built the lead to 37-20 early in the second half after a three-pointer by Avae Hardy. Mount Olive pulled within 40-29 as Styles and Shy'lia Buie combined for three 3-pointers in a span of just over two minutes. But Kamille Horne's three-pointer with 6:19 remaining extended UNC Pembroke's lead to 14 and Mount Olive never got any closer.

Styles led the Trojans with 11 points, while Ty Wallace pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Kiara Jones added eight rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.

Haney led three UNC Pembroke players in double figures with 12 points.

Mount Olive resumes Conference Carolinas play Tuesday as the Trojans play host to nationally 10th-ranked Limestone in a rematch of the championship game of last year's conference tournament. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.