MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina - The University of Mount Olive women's basketball team dropped to the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College 69-57 on Piggly Wiggly Blackout Night in Conference Carolinas action in Kornegay Arena Wednesday night. UMO falls to 11-4 overall and 8-3 in conference, while Belmont Abbey improves to 14-2, 9-1.

INSIDE THE SCORE
Mount Olive took the first points of the contest before Belmont Abbey answered with six straight points to take the lead. The quarter saw two lead changes with the Trojans holding a slim 15-13 cushion heading into the second.

In the second quarter, the lead exchanged sides four times before the Crusaders went on a 17-to-4 run to take a 35-24 lead with 3:55 left before the half. UMO tried to bounce back but only managed five points for the remainder of the half and trailed 40-29 at the break.

The third quarter saw the Trojans score six unanswered buckets to draw the lead down to five, but the closest UMO could get was one as BAC ended the third on an 8-0 run and made the margin 56-47.

The final quarter Mount Olive was only able to get the deficit as close as five as the Crusaders held onto the lead until the final horn and took the game by a final of 69-57.

MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
The Trojans were led by Jada Bacchus with 15. Azariah Fields, Hope Toliver, and Ivanda Hudjakova all had double-digit scoring nights with 12,11, and 10 points respectively.

BELMONT ABBEY LEADERS
The Crusaders were led by Maria Kuhlman with a team-high 19 points. 

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came in the second quarter when BAC used a 17-to-4 run to gain control of the lead and not give it back.

UP NEXT
Mount Olive hits the road to take on the Crusaders of North Greenville University on January 18 at 2 P.M.