Trojans Fall To North Greenville 66-62 In Women's Basketball Church Night Battle

Trojans Fall To North Greenville 66-62 In Women's Basketball Church Night Battle

Ty Wallace scored a career-high 29 points and University of Mount Olive had a chance for a game winner in the final seconds, but the Trojans fell to North Greenville University 66-62 in Conference Carolinas women's basketball Saturday at Kornegay Arena. The game was part of the 32nd Annual Mount Olive Basketball Church Night, sponsored by Bojangle's.

Mount Olive (9-14 overall, 7-10 Conference Carolinas) trailed 62-57 with 90 seconds left in the contest when Rachel Fehl made it a one-possession game with a left-handed layup on the left baseline. After the two teams exchanged turnovers, Tommarah Harris drove the lane for a layup, drew a foul and converted the three-point play to tie the game 62-62 with 24 seconds remaining.

North Greenville (10-13, 9-8) regained the lead on its next possession as the Crusaders beat the Trojan press for a two-on-one break. Emily Wampler found Timisty Nelson for a layup with 13 seconds left to play.

After nearly turning the ball over in front of the Mount Olive bench, the Trojans called timeout with 3.4 seconds left. Mount Olive tried to inbound the ball, but Nelson tipped the ball and saved it inbounds for the steal. Wampler iced the game with a pair of free throws with 0.6 seconds left.

Mount Olive overcame a six-point halftime deficit with an 8-0 run to start the second half, highlighted by Harris' 40 footer as the shot clock expired, as the Trojans took their first lead of the game at 34-32 with 16:44 left in the contest. Mount Olive had a chance to extend its lead with a breakaway layup, but Nelson blocked the shot from behind. Alisha Hope finished the play with a jumper to tie the game and trigger an 11-0 North Greenville run. Erika Cobb's jumper with 12:41 remaining matched the Crusaders' biggest lead at 43-34.

The Trojans chipped away at the lead and Wallace's 15-foot jumper with 6:52 remaining tied the game 50-50. After the two teams traded baskets, Ni'ya Styles hit a three-pointer to put Mount Olive back on top 55-54 with 5:24 left to play. Nelson answered with a layup for North Greenville to ignite an 8-2 run and give the Crusaders a five-point lead.

In the first half, North Greenville used three-pointers by Carter and Hope to jump out to a 6-2 lead as the Crusaders led for the entire half. The margin grew to as many as nine points before offensive rebounds by Kiara Jones and Anamaria Zjacic led to a Ty Wallace 10-footer and triggered a Mount Olive rally.

After Gabby Griffin drove the length of the court for a layup and Rachel Fehl connected on a three-pointer, Tommarah Harris hit a runner in the lane with 48 seconds left to bring the Trojans within 28-26. North Greenville scored the final four points of the half, the last basket coming on a steal and a length-of-the-court layup by Carter to give the Crusaders a 32-26 halftime lead.

Wallace pulled down 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double for Mount Olive, while Zjacic led all players with 12 boards. The Trojans outrebounded the Crusdaers 49-38. Shylia Buie shared game-high honors with seven assists.

Hope led North Greenville with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Wampler added 16 points and seven assists.

Mount Olive returns to action Wednesday as the Trojans travel to Central, S.C., to take on Southern Wesleyan in a Conference Carolinas match-up. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.