Tamara Nesmith posted her fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds and helped Mount Olive's defense record a season best for fewest points allowed as the Trojans defeated Coker 58-44 in Conference Carolinas women's basketball Wednesday at Hartsville, S.C. Alyssa Luebs added 14 points, while Jasmine McDonald pulled down 10 boards.

Mount Olive (14-5, 8-2 Conference Carolinas) led by 10 early in the second half, but Coker (5-14, 5-5) answered with a 9-0 run on three 3-pointers in a span of two-plus minutes, the last two by Amber Lau to pull the Cobras within 28-27 with 15:17 left in the game. Mount Olive came back with seven unanswered points as Kirksten Mitchell hit 3-of-4 free throws on the Trojans' next two possessions. The margin never fell below five the rest of the way.

Nesmith's free throw with exactly 10 minutes left pushed Mount Olive's lead to 40-29. Three-pointers by Hailey Yohn and Lau pulled Coker within 42-37 with 6:57 left. The two teams traded baskets until Luebs' offensive rebound and reverse layup with 2:07 remaining pushed the Trojans' lead to 51-41. Andrea Jones and Destinee Webb combined for 5-of-6 free throws in the final 44 seconds to seal the victory.

After committing 16 turnovers in the first half, the Trojans turned the ball over only four times in the second half. Mount Olive forced 25 Coker turnovers in the game.

With the win, Mount Olive moves into sole possession of first place in the East Division standings. The Trojans are a half-game ahead of Barton, which plays Queens Wednesday.

In the first half, Mount Olive held Coker to a single field goal through the first eight minutes of the game as the Trojans built an 11-2 lead. Coker got as close as four points, but Nesmith's three-point play and Mitchell's three-pointer with 1:48 left gave the Trojans their biggest lead of the half at 23-12.

After Kelly Godbout's third three-pointer of the half cut the margin down to eight, Jones' basket with 1:09 extended the Trojans' lead back to double figures. But Jasmine Alston hit a three for Coker with 16 seconds left to cut Mount Olive's lead to 25-18 at halftime.

Nesmith was 8-for-13 from the field for Mount Olive, while Luebs was 6-for-12. The Trojans were 17-for-24 from the free throw line, compared to 3-for-5 for Coker.

Godbout scored 11 of her team-high 15 points in the first half for Coker, while Lau finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Godbout, Lau and Yohn combined for eight of the Cobras' nine three-pointers.

The Trojans have held six opponents below 55 points this season. The previous low was 47 points by Apprentice. Wednesday's contest was in direct contrast of Mount Olive's first meeting against Coker, won by the Trojans 78-75 January 3 at Kornegay Arena.

Mount Olive returns to action Saturday as the Trojans travel to Belmont, N.C., to take on Belmont Abbey in a Conference Carolinas match-up. Mount Olive defeated Belmont Abbey 66-44 in the first round of last year's conference tournament. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.