Joneiqua Gary's long-range three-pointer with just over two minutes left broke a 65-65 tie, while Alyssa Luebs and Jasmine McDonald followed with defensive stops as Mount Olive held off Saint Augustine's 73-69 in non-conference women's basketball Monday at Kornegay Arena. Conference Carolinas scoring leader Andrea Jones led all players with a season-high 24 points.

After a first half that saw 13 lead changes and nine ties, Mount Olive (4-2) trailed by as many as six points midway through the second half. Mount Olive battled back and McDonald's three-point play highlighted a 7-0 run as the Trojans took a 65-61 lead with 4:13 left to play. Saint Augustine's (4-3) rallied to tie the game on Keyona Bryant's layup with just under four minutes remaining and Umeka Benson's layup off her own steal with 2:44 left created the 14th tie of the game.

Gary missed a three-point attempt, but Tamara Nesmith's offensive board kept the Trojans' possession alive. Gary then launched a three-pointer from 23 feet out to put Mount Olive on top for good 68-65 with 2:03 left to play. Luebs made a steal on Saint Augustine's next possession, then forced a missed shot on a two-on-one break for the Falcons.

McDonald, who had picked up her fourth foul less than 90 seconds into the second half, hit an off-balance layup with 1:16 remaining to make it a two-possession game, then blocked a shot on the other end. The Trojans hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 41 seconds to seal the win. Benson hit a layup at the buzzer for Saint Augustine's.

Both teams struggled early from the field before warming up late in the first half. Mount Olive was saddled with foul trouble as three starters had at least two fouls apiece. The Trojans got production from their bench in the first half as Kirksten Mitchell, Kristin Mobley and Shanice Pringle all hit key baskets. Mitchell had five points, four assists and three rebounds in the first half.

Mount Olive overcame a five-point deficit in the first half and baskets by Pringle and Mitchell gave the Trojans a 34-31 lead at the break. The halftime margin was the Trojans' largest of the first half.

The Trojans' lead was still three before Bryant scored the first five points in a 9-0 Falcon run. Ebony Spencer's layup with 15:47 remaining gave Saint Augustine's its biggest lead at 45-39. Mount Olive battled back to tie the game on three-pointers by Jones and Gary, but the Falcons built the lead back up to 57-51 with 8:38 left in the contest.

Luebs' three-point play with just over six minutes remaining helped rally Mount Olive and the Trojans never trailed again after McDonald's go-ahead three-point play.

Gary hit three three-pointers and finished with 11 points, while Nesmith added 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. McDonald narrowly missed her fourth double-double in six games with eight points and eight rebounds, despite playing only 21 minutes.

Bryant led four Falcons in double figures with 23 points, while Benson had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Spencer added 12 points and seven boards as Saint Augustine's outrebounded the Trojans 42-37.

Mount Olive returns to action Saturday as the Trojans play host to Virginia Union in a non-conference match-up. Tip-off is 4 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.