MOUNT OLIVE, North Carolina - The University of Mount Olive women's basketball team dropped a close one to the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College 70-62 in Conference Carolinas action in Kornegay Arena Friday night. UMO falls to 6-4 overall and 6-4 in conference, while Belmont Abbey improves to 14-2, 10-1.

INSIDE THE SCORE
Belmont Abbey took the first points of the contest before Mount Olive answered with six straight points to take the lead. The Trojans found their hot hand as they went on a 11-5 run to take the 17-7 lead heading into the second.

In the second quarter, Mount Olive continued to take control of the game and went on a 13-11 run to take a 30-18 lead with 4:13 left before the half. BAC tried to bounce back but only managed 10 points for the remainder of the half and trailed 32-28 at the break.

The third quarter  wasn't much of a change as the Trojans continued to maintain the lead, but the closest BAC could get was four as Mount Olive ended the third on an 16-12 run and made the margin 48-40.

The final quarter the Trojans scored five unanswered buckets to draw the lead 53-43 at the 8:34 mark. The Crusaders found their hot hand as they went on a 17-0 run to take the 60-53 lead with 1:56 left in the game. Mount Olive was was only able to get the deficit as close as eight as the Crusaders held onto the lead until the final horn and took the game by a final of 70-62.

MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
The Trojans were led by Ayonna Cotten with 18 points. Azariah Fields and Kiara Jackson all had double-digit scoring nights with 12 points respectively.

BELMONT ABBEY LEADERS
The Crusaders were led by Brittany Autry with 28 points. 

KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game came in the second quarter when BAC used a 17-to-0 run to gain control of the lead and not give it back.

UP NEXT
Mount Olive will back on the court Saturday in Kornegay Arena, February 13th for game two facing Belmont Abbey College at 2 P.M.