MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina - The University of Mount Olive women's basketball team defeated North Greenville University 70-66 in Conference Carolinas action Saturday afternoon. Mount Olive improves to 18-7 overall and 15-6 in the conference, while North Greenville falls to 13-13, 10-11. It was also senior night for Lydia Hedgepeth, Makayla Nichols, Jada Bacchus, Kelly Post, Hope Toliver, and Kennedi Jones.

INSIDE THE SCORE
Mount Olive started off the game with a quick four points. The Crusaders pulled through at the 6:32 mark, finally getting up on the scoreboard trailing 6-4. Then the Trojans found their hot hand going on a 16-6 run, taking a 20-10 advantage to end the first quarter. 

The second quarter began with a Trojan basket by Jada Bacchus leading 22-10 with 8:30 remaining in the game. The Crusaders outscored Mount Olive with a 14-6 run, but North Greenville trailed 28-24 going into the half. 

The third quarter started with two Trojan baskets by Sherry Johnson leading the Trojans cushion to double figures at 34-24 at the 8:38 mark. The Crusaders responded with three baskets trailing to draw within six, 28-34. The Crusaders were close to coming back, but Mount Olive fought hard to not surrender the lead and ended the third quarter with a slim 50-48 advantage.

Senior Hope Toliver began the final quarter with a bucket to keep the Trojans in the lead 52-48 with 7:17 remaining in the game. Both teams battled back and forth, but the Trojans never took their foot off the gas and UMO came out with the 70-66 win.

MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
The Trojans were led by Jada Bacchus with 21 points. Hope Toliver, Makayla Nichols, and Sherry Johnson all had double-digit scoring with 12,11 and 10 points respectively.

NORTH GREENVILLE LEADERS
The Crusaders were led by Savannah Hughes with 20 points. Karen Donehew and Peace Okeke all had double-digit scoring performances with 16 and 10 points.

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game was in the first quarter when the Trojans went on 16-6 run to take the lead the remainder of the game.

UP NEXT
Mount Olive will back be on the court Tuesday for their last regular-season game in Belmont, North Carolina, February 25th to take on Belmont Abbey at 5:30 P.M.