Posted: Dec 06, 2016
Murfreesboro, N.C. – In an early-season regional clash, the University of Mount Olive women's basketball team powered past Chowan University, 88-81, on Tuesday evening in Murfreesboro, N.C.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 88, Chowan 81
Records: Mount Olive (5-2, 3-0 CC), Chowan (7-2, 0-0 CIAA)
Location: Helms Center, Murfreesboro, N.C.
How It Happened
Play-by-Play
FIRST QUARTER
- The first four minutes of play featured three ties and four lead changes as the Trojans took a 12-11 lead with 6:25 left in the first period.
- UMO sprinted out on an 18-4 advantage to grab a 27-15 lead before Chowan cut the Mount Olive advantage to just eight at 27-19 at the conclusion of the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
- The Hawks cut UMO's lead to just four on three different occasions before the Trojans increased their lead to eight at 46-38 in the final minute and a half.
- Seniors Daria Simmons and Kiara Jones each scored six points to lead Mount Olive in the second frame.
THIRD QUARTER
- The Trojans teetered on the edge of losing their lead, but each instance in which the Hawks got within four UMO seemed to have an answer.
- Chowan continued to push UMO, grabbing its first lead since the initial five minutes at 56-55 and increasing it to its largest point at 61-57 in the waning moments of the third quarter.
- In the final seconds, UMO roared back with five-straight points to retake a 62-61 lead.
FOURTH QUARTER
- UMO increased its lead early in the final period, taking a 64-61 lead just 22 seconds into the fourth on a tip-in by Jones.
- Chowan wasted no time in responding, as the Hawks retook the lead at 67-66 with 7:30 left to play in the contest.
- Junior Rachel Fehl answered the Hawks' basket with a jumper of her own to give the lead back to the Trojans at 68-67 with 7:02 remaining, a lead UMO never relinquished.
- Once again, as was true all evening, junior Ni'Ya Styles cashed-in a timely bucket to increase the advantage to three for UMO, as the Trojans held on to their lead through the final seven minutes of play.
KEY STATS
- Styles set a new career-high with 33 points, the fifth-highest single game scoring output in UMO Women's Basketball history, in the victory.
- Junior Felecity Havens recorded her third double-double of the season with 22 points and 14 boards.
- Kiara Jones also chipped in a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
- UMO shot 47.8% (32-67) from the field to Chowan's 34.4% (33-96),
NOTABLES
- Coming into the contest, Chowan is ranked fourth in the D2SIDA NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Atlantic Regional poll and is receiving votes in the D2SIDA National Top 25 poll.
UP NEXT
Mount Olive returns to conference play in its home-opener on Saturday against North Greenville University in Kornegay Arena at 2 p.m. Bring an unwrapped toy to support Toys for Tots and receive free admission to Saturday's doubleheader.