University of Mount Olive went into overtime but lost a thriller to Emmanuel College 63-57 in Franklin Springs, Ga in Conference Carolinas women's basketball. The Trojans overcame a five point Lion lead and seven lead changes to force overtime.
Mount Olive (2-5 Overall, 1-3 Conference Carolinas) failed to get their offense going to start the game as Emmanuel (6-1, 3-1) went on a 7-0 run. The run took over 6:30 before Ty Wallace hit a jumper to halt the Lion offensive with 13:27 left in the first period.
The Lions controlled the majority of the first half as the lead they held over the Trojans went as high as eight. A made shot by Ni'Ya Styles with 1:27 left before the half gave Mount Olive the first lead of the game 22-21. Mount Olive went into halftime up three 26-23, after a last second tip-in by Ariel Johnson.
Early in the second half Emmanuel scored five unanswered points with 14:50 31-36 with a jumper and a three-pointer by Elise Coberly. The Trojans responded with its' own 5-0 run to tie the game at 36 with 12:53 left in the game.
The game changed hands over the next twelve minutes. With under a minute to play Shylia Buie made both of her free throw attempts to tie the game once more with :44 remaining. Rachel Fehl grabbed an defensive board with :14 left in the game and set the Trojans up for a last second shot. However, Mount Olive was unable to get the winning shot and overtime was needed.
In overtime both Johnson and Buie tied the game up on two separate plays within 30 seconds of each other, with Buie's at the 1:33 mark which made the score 57 all. Emmanuel used a made free throw to give the Lions a slim one point lead at 57-58 with 1:10 to go. The Trojans fouled the Lions twice and Emmanuel went 4-for-4 from the line to extend the lead to five.
A technical foul was issued with :28 left in overtime as the Trojans had six players on the court and with the foul Emmanuel added one more point to the lead and Mount Olive did not recover.
Buie led the team with 13 points. Johnson added a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Styles contributed nine and Wallace eight points and seven rebounds. As a team Mount Olive out-shot Emmanuel from the field, 3-point range, and on the charity strip.
Mount Olive returns home to Kornegay Arena on Dec. 11 when they will host Francis Marion in a non-conference match-up. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.