MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina - The University of Mount Olive women's basketball team dominated the Warriors of Southern Wesleyan winning by 30 points, 79-49, in the Conference Carolinas season opener for both teams. UMO improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference while SWU falls to 0-5 and 0-1.
GAME INFORMATION
The contest was the conference opener for each team. SWU, who was searching for their first win of the season, fell to a UMO team that dominated from the very beginning.
INSIDE THE SCORE
UMO got on the scoreboard first scoring the first 15 points of the game. Southern Wesleyan did not get on the board until seven minutes of the opening quarter passed at which point UMO held a 15-2 advantage. Mount Olive kept their foot on the gas pedal scoring seven more points before the end of the first half to lead 22-6 at the buzzer.
The Trojans continued forward as the scored the first nine points of the second half and led 31-6 before the Warriors got a three-pointer to fall with 5:55 before the halftime horn. Baskets began to fall for SWU who scored 12 points throughout the remainder of the second quarter while UMO scored 15 to lead 46-18 at halftime.
The third quarter slowed down for the Trojans who scored 22 and 24 points in the first two periods of play. UMO scored just 11 points in the third quarter while SWU scored 15 to put Mount Olive's lead at 24-points with the score sitting at 57-33.
Mount Olive got fired up in the final quarter of action scoring 22 points compared to SWU's 16. Players like Michelle Stewart, Laila Harris, and Zary Poulava saw game time as the Trojans were confident in their fourth-quarter lead.
UMO LEADERS
The Trojans were led by Azariah Fields and Hope Toliver with 19 and 18 points respectively. Jada Bacchus added 13 points and Ivanda Hudjakova 10 to join in the double-digits. Hudjakova led with 13 rebounds, a career-high, including 10 defensive boards. Bacchus collected nine rebounds and Toliver eight which helped contribute to the teams' 49 rebounds overall.
SWU LEADERS
The Warriors were led by Emily Waters with 13 points and Aneysa Williams who tallied 10. Waters and Lisana Burnett each collected five rebounds while Denisha Hall led with five assists.
KEY MOMENT
The critical moment of the game came in the first seven minutes of the first quarter when UMO was able to open up a 15-point advantage over the Warriors and maintain the lead throughout the game.
UP NEXT
Mount Olive returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 26th, when the Trojans take to the road for a Conference Carolinas contest at Chowan University. The Trojans and Hawks will face off at 5:30 PM for tip-off in Murfreesboro, NC.
