MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina - The University of Mount Olive women's basketball team defeated the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College 70-53 in Conference Carolinas action in Kornegay Arena Saturday afternoon. UMO improves to 11-3 overall and 8-2 in conference, while Lees-McRae falls to 4-12, 1-7.
INSIDE THE SCORE
Mount Olive took the first six points of the contest before Lees-McRae answered with two free throws to stop the run. Following a three-pointer by Makayla Nichols, the Bobcats went on a 15-to-2 run to capture their first lead of the game at 17-11. LMC kept their lead for the remainder of the quarter as Mount Olive cut the margin down to 19-15 before the quarter came to a close.
In the second quarter, after a made layup from the Bobcats, UMO called a timeout forcing a media timeout and the momentum began to switch following the stoppage. The Trojans came out of the timeout and ran seven straight points to regain the lead at 22-21 with 6:34. The lead exchanged hands four times before the Trojans took ahold of the advantage on a small four-point run at the 3:09 mark and despite a last-second made three-pointer by the Bobcats the UMO remained at 33-32 heading into the break.
The third quarter from the opening bucket saw the lead change hands and it did so five more times before the Trojans found another key run to give Mount Olive separation it desperately needed. Midway through the quarter Ivanda Hudjakova knocked two free throws to start a 9-0 run for the Trojans to help them regain the lead at 46-40, a lead they would hold for the remainder of the quarter.
The final quarter started with a 13-to-2 run by the Trojans that boosted them to a 65-49 lead with under six minutes. Following the run, the offense for both teams cooled off as only seven points were scored for the rest of the quarter as LMC only muster six points in the final frame and UMO went onto take the final 70-53.
MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
The Trojans were led by Jada Bacchus with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Sherry Johnson and Kelly Post both had double-digit scoring afternoons with 17 and 11 points respectively.
LEES-MCRAE LEADERS
The Bobcats were led by Jala Hollowman with a team-high 17 points.
KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came at the beginning of the final quarter as the Trojans started the frame on a 13-to-2 run the took all of the wind out of the Bobcats' sails and helped UMO cruise to the win.
UP NEXT
Mount Olive remains at home in Kornegay Arena to take on the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College on January 15 at 5:30 P.M.