Second Half Push Propels Trojans To Victory

Second Half Push Propels Trojans To Victory

Mount Olive, N.C. – In its home-opener, the University of Mount Olive women's basketball team pushed its win streak to five with a 76-71 victory over North Greenville University on Saturday afternoon in Mount Olive, N.C.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 76, North Greenville 71
Records: Mount Olive (6-2, 4-0 CC), North Greenville  (3-6, 0-3 CC)
Location: Kornegay Arena, Mount Olive, N.C.

How It Happened
Play-by-Play


FIRST QUARTER

  • Senior Kiara Jones helped set the pace early for the Trojans with 12 points in the first quarter as UMO ran out to a 19-14 lead.

SECOND QUARTER

  • North Greenville flipped momentum in the second frame as the Crusaders outscored the Trojans 23-7 in the second quarter.
  • With UMO in front 24-19 with 5:09 left in the second period, NGU orchestrated an 18-2 run to take a 37-26 lead at the break.

THIRD QUARTER

  • Junior Ni'Ya Styles helped fuel the Trojans comeback early in the third as UMO forced four turnovers in the first 2:25 of the period and used an 11-0 run to take a 38-37 lead.
  • The final 7:35 of the quarter featured eight lead changes ending with NGU holding a narrow 53-52 advantage.

FOURTH QUARTER

  • The Crusaders controlled the lead for much of the period before junior Felecity Havens scored off the glass and was fouled on the play, hitting the free throw giving UMO a 61-60 lead that the Trojans never relinquished.
  • NGU cut the Trojans' lead to just two at 69-67 but Mount Olive once again had an answer as senior Daria Simmons hit four free throws and a three in the final 1:41 to secure the victory.

KEY STATS

  • Havens led UMO with 23 points and 12 rebounds for the juniors third-straight double-double.
  • Simmons chipped in 20 points and seven board for the Trojans.
  • Amassing her fourth-straight double-double was Kiara Jones who finished with 12 points and 11 boards.
  • Styles poured-in 16 to aid Mount Olive, adding five steals and four assists.
  • UMO shot just 10% (1-10) from three, but was a near perfect 90.5% (19-21) from the charity stripe.
  • The Trojans' starting five of Havens, Jones, Styles, Simmons, and junior Rachel Fehl all played 32-or-more minutes in the win.

UP NEXT
Mount Olive returns to action Wednesday against non-conference foe UNC Pembroke at 5:30 p.m in Kornegay Arena. Fans are encouraged to bring canned goods or an unwrapped children's toy to receive free admission to the doubleheader and support Toys For Tots.