MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina - The University of Mount Olive women's basketball team dominated the Warriors of Southern Wesleyan University on the 39th Annual Church Night 87-57 in Conference Carolinas action Saturday afternoon. Trojans improves to 4-3 overall and 4-3 in the conference, while Warriors falls to 1-6, 1-5.

INSIDE THE SCORE

Mount Olive got on the scoreboard first with Ayanna A Cotten's making a three-point shot to start the game. Cotten stole the ball as she added another field goal to help put the Trojans in the lead 5-0 at the 9:20 mark. Southern Wesleyan had a slow start but was able to outscore the Trojan's 19-14 to tie the game 19-19 with 1:47 remaining in the game. The Worriers kept their foot on the gas pedal and pulled ahead to end the first to lead 25-21 at the buzzer.

The second quarter started with a Trojan basket by Azariah Fields. It didn't take long for the Warriors to respond with a basket to stay in the lead by four, but the Trojans found their hot hand as they went on a 17-2 run, with fifteen of those field goals being three-point shots by Ayanna A Cotten, Azariah Fields, and Cristina De La Cruz. Mount Olive added one more three-pointer by Fields and ended the second quarter to take the lead 43-29 at halftime. 

Trojans continued forward in the third quarter as they scored the first six points and led 49-29 before the Warriors got a field goal to fall with 6:55 before the horn. Baskets began to fall for UMO, who scored 23 points throughout the remainder of the third quarter, while SWU couldn't find the basket as the Trojans continue to take the lead 72-31 going into the final quarter.

The Warriors never gave up and continued to fight in the final quarter by outscoring Mount Olive 26-15. But it wasn't enough for SWU to bridge the gap as the Trojans took home the 87-57 victory.  

UMO LEADERS
The Trojans were led by Ayonna A Cotten with 18 points. Ivanda Hudjakova added 14 and Azariah Fields 13 join in the double-digits.

SWU LEADERS
The Warriors were led by Amy Soumare with 12 points and Reese Caroline who tallied 11. 

KEY MOMENT
The critical moment of the game came in the second quarter when the Trojans went on a 17-2 run to take the lead the reminder of the game.
UP NEXT
Mount Olive returns to action on Friday, Feb. 5th, when the Trojans take to the road for a Conference Carolinas contest at Erskine College. The Trojans and Flying Fleet will face off at 5:00 PM for tip-off in Due West, NC.