Tommarah Harris, Daria Simmons Combine For 40 Points In Trojans' 68-47 Win Over Converse

Tommarah Harris, Daria Simmons Combine For 40 Points In Trojans' 68-47 Win Over Converse

Tommarah Harris hit 6-of-8 three-pointers and scored a career-high 22 points off the bench as University of Mount Olive remained unbeaten in conference play with a 68-47 victory over Converse College in Conference Carolinas women's basketball Saturday at Kornegay Arena. Daria Simmons added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Trojans.

Saturday's contest was sponsored by Rose's Department Store of Mount Olive and toys were collected at the game for Toys For Tots.

Ni'Ya Styles hit a three-pointer from the left corner on the Trojans' opening possession and Mount Olive (4-3 overall, 3-0 Conference Carolinas) led wire-to-wire. Another three by Styles midway through the first quarter gave Mount Olive its first double-digit lead at 16-5 and Harris scored seven points in a 10-2 run to end the period to extend the Trojans' lead to 26-7 after 10 minutes of play.

Both teams were scoreless for the first three minutes of the second quarter until another three by Harris ended the drought and pushed the margin past the 20-point mark for the first time. Converse (1-4, 0-3) got as close as 13 points after Bri James' jumper with 1:39 left pulled the Valkyries within 32-19. Harris connected on her third 3-pointer of the half with 35 seconds left and Mount Olive led 37-19 at halftime.

After Mount Olive scored the last five points of the first half, a pair of baskets by Simmons and a three-pointer from the top of the key by Shy'Lia Buie highlighted a 10-0 run to start the third quarter and give the Trojans a 47-19 lead with 4:33 left. Kassidy Moorhouse hit a three-pointer for Converse, but the Valkyries were held to just six points in the quarter.

Mount Olive took its biggest lead of the game at 66-35 after Anamaria Zjacic forced a turnover and converted a three-point play with 4:20 left in the contest.

Styles dished out a career-high seven assists for Mount Olive, while Jada Bacchus pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Aerial Johnson finished with nine rebounds and five blocked shots.

Dah'Vielle Lucas and Paige Johnson scored nine points apiece for Converse, while James shared game-high honors with seven assists. Yashee Johnson led all players with 10 rebounds for the Valkyries.

Mount Olive returns to action Tuesday as the Trojans travel to Florence, S.C., to take on Francis Marion in a non-conference contest. Tip-off is 6 p.m.