Trojans Pull Away From Valkyries

Trojans Pull Away From Valkyries

Spartanburg, S.C. – The University of Mount Olive women's basketball team survived a late rally to earn an 85-76 victory over Converse on Saturday afternoon in Spartanburg, S.C.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Mount Olive 85, Converse 76
Records: Mount Olive (17-4, 14-2 CC), Converse (4-16, 3-13 CC)
Location: Hannah Gym, Spartanburg, S.C.

How It Happened
Play-by-Play

FIRST QUARTER

  • After Converse scored the opening two points of the contest, UMO scored six-straight on a pair of buckets by junior Ni'Ya Styles and a layup by senior Daria Simmons with 6:09 left in the quarter.
  • Converse creeped back to tie the game at 13 with 1:59 remaining on the clock, but UMO snuck back out to a three-point lead after the first period as Styles knocked down a jumper at the buzzer to push the Trojans' lead to 21-18.

 SECOND QUARTER

  • The Trojans dominated the second half using a 17-0 run to open the half and take a 38-18 lead over the Valkyries with 4:17 to play in the half.
  • Closing out the half, Converse put together a 9-2 spurt that got the Valkyries within 13 at 40-27 at the break.

THIRD QUARTER

  • Junior Felecity Havens scored seven of the Trojans' first nine points of the third period as UMO increased its advantage to 15 at 49-34 with 7:41 left in the quarter.
  • A tussle ensued over the course of the rest of the third frame as the Trojans tried to preserve their double-digit lead.
  • Converse trimmed UMO's advantage to single digits at 62-54 heading into the final quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

  • Mount Olive's lead grew even thinner with 8:19 remaining in the contest as Converse cut its deficit to just seven at 67-60.
  • The Trojans used a late 11-4 run to provide some cushion as UMO grabbed a 78-62 lead with 4:46 left to play.
  • Converse threatened again cutting Mount Olive's lead to eight at 80-72 with 58 seconds left on the clock.
  • Staving off the Valkyries in the final minute, UMO secured the 85-76 road victory.

KEY STATS

  • Havens led the Trojans with 25 points while also chipping in 12 boards for the junior's 14th double-double of the season.
  • Also in double figures for UMO were Styles (24) and Simmons (14).
  • Simmons came within shouting distance of a quadruple-double, finishing with 14 points 10 boards, six steals, and five assists.
  • UMO outshot Converse, 50% to 33.3%, and edged the Valkyries, 47-46, in rebounds.

UP NEXT
Mount Olive battles Belmont Abbey on Wednesday in Belmont, N.C. at 5:30 p.m. in Conference Carolinas play.