MOUNT OLIVE (Jan. 18) – Despite a career-high 24 points from junior Haleigh Crews on Wednesday night, the Trojans fell short by a 74-69 margin versus Francis Marion at Kornegay Arena in Conference Carolinas play.

With the loss, the University of Mount Olive women's basketball team drops to 10-9 overall with a 6-5 mark in conference action. The Patriots have won back-to-back meetings against the Trojans after defeating UMO in the semifinals of the league tournament last season. Meanwhile, Francis Marion extends their winning streak to eight straight to improve to 10-6 this season with an 8-2 record in league play.

Crews finished with a career-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including four-of-five from three-point range. She also tallied seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 37 minutes. Crews ranks third on the team this season with 9.6 points per game, including 11 contests in double-figures.

Freshman Laila Anderson registered 16 points on 5-of-14 from the field with four rebounds, while junior Reagan Hune totaled nine points, six rebounds, two assists, and five steals in 38 minutes. Freshman Maleiya Hill scored nine points with five rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in 37 minutes.

Both sides exchanged baskets in the opening two minutes of the contest before UMO scored 10-straight points, led by Anderson with six, to take a 15-5 advantage. Francis Marion countered with a 13-2 run over the next four-plus minutes of the quarter to take an 18-17 lead. Hill answered with a three-point play, but the Patriots converted a layup with one second left to tie the game at 20-20. The game would feature three more ties in the opening half of the second quarter before FMU registered eight-consecutive points to take a 34-27 lead. Over the final two minutes of the half, Mount Olive scored six of the last eight points to trail 36-33 at the break.

The Trojans quickly established the lead in the third quarter with eight unanswered points to hold a 41-36 advantage. The Patriots remained within striking distance during the majority of the third before regaining the lead with a short 5-0 run in the closing minutes. Hill converted a floating jumper in the final seconds to tie the game at 55-55 heading into the fourth. The Patriots protected the lead for the opening three minutes before Anderson hit a three-pointer and Hune made a free throw to knot the contest at 63-63 at the 5:35 mark. With FMU leading 67-66 with 1:52 left, the Patriots went on a 7-0 run, including five-of-six from the charity stripe to seal the win, 74-69.

The Trojans finished the game shooting 45.0 percent (27-of-60) from the floor while converting 6-of-15 (40.0 percent) from the three-point range. Meanwhile, the Patriots shot at a 57.1 clip (28-of-49) from the field and made 14-of-19 (73.7 percent) from the free-throw line. Francis Marion finished with a 31-30 rebounding advantage and scored 42 points in the paint, while UMO delivered 18 points off 23 forced turnovers.

Junior Lauryn Taylor finished with 16 points on 5-of-14 shots with four rebounds and two steals in 36 minutes. Redshirt freshman Trinity Adams posted 16 points on six-of-seven attempts with two rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in 26 minutes. Sophomore Kiana Lee produced a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while teammate Jada Richards added 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one block in 35 minutes.

Mount Olive continues Conference Carolinas action on Saturday, Jan. 21, when it travels to face Southern Wesleyan on the road at 2 p.m.