WILSON, N.C. – The No. 6 Seeded Mount Olive Trojans fell to the Bulldogs of No. 2 seeded Barton College 66-64 on Thursday afternoon in the semifinals of the 2020-2021 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship in Wilson, N.C.
INSIDE THE SCORE
Barton found the scoreboard first with six unanswered field goals at the 8:28 mark to give the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead. Kiara Jackson and Ivanda Hudjakova gave UMO six points to help tie the game 6-6 as the clock hit the 6:06 mark. The Bulldogs broke the tie as they went on a 7-1 run to take the five point advantage 12-7. Both teams fought hard to finish the remainder of the first quarter, but Azariah Fields was able to top off the quarter putting Mount Olive lead by one 18-17.
The second quarter Mount Olive made the first basket by Azariah Fields to keep the lead for the Trojans 20-17. The remaining minutes were an up-and-back game as the teams traded possessions going on a 14-13 run with UMO leading 34-30 going into the half.
The third quarter Mount Olive found their momentum as they went on a 8-3 run to keep the lead 41-33 at the 6:07 mark. The Trojans continued to pull away as Barton got the deficit down to three-points, however, it never got closer to that in the third. Mount Olive took the ten-point lead 57-47 going into the last ten minutes of the game.
In the final quarter, the Bulldogs made the first three baskets, but still trailed behind 57-53 at the 7:36 mark. Barton wasn't ready to give up just yet as they went on a 9-4 run to tie the game 62-62 with 3:15 remaining in the game. With 1:51 remaining in the game, Shanika Peterkin made a layup to put the Bulldogs in the lead 64-62. With .2 left in the game Kiara Jackson put up a field goal, but Trojans still trailed behind by one 65-64. UMO was unable to get the last second shot as Barton took home the 66-64 victory.
MOUNT OLIVE LEADERS
The Trojans were led by Azariah Fields with 21 points. Ivanda Hudjakova and Kiara Jackson also had a double-digit scoring night with 16 and 10 points respectively.
BARTON LEADERS
The Bulldogs were led by Schekinah Bimpa with 25 points. Jami Tham-Morrobel and Michelle Gainey also had a double-digit scoring night with 18 and 10 respectively.
KEY MOMENT
The key moment of the game was in the fourth quarter when UMO fouled to give Barton the ability to sink a pair of free throws locking up the 66-64 victory.
UP NEXT
Mount Olive's season comes to a close with their run to the semifinals of the 2020-2021 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship. The Trojans finished the season with a 6-6,7-7 record and will return to action for the 2021-2022 season.
