HICKORY, N.C. (April 5) – In a non-conference road game, the No. 25 ranked University of Mount Olive women's lacrosse team defeated Lenoir-Rhyne by a 18-8 margin in non-conference action on Wednesday evening. 
 
With the win, the Trojans registered their seventh-straight win to improve to 8-4 overall behind a 4-1 record in away contests. It marked the fifth meeting between the sides dating back to 2014 with UMO winning the last two games. Meanwhile, the Bears fall to 5-8 overall and hold a 0-2 mark facing Conference Carolinas opponents this season. 
 
In the first quarter, Mount Olive was able to get on the board as sophomore Rileigh White netted the first goal, 1-0. In response, LR scored at the 12:55 mark to level the match at 1-1. With five straight goals, UMO were able to take a significant lead. With three goals from senior Bria Hamilton, a goal from sophomore Lena DeFilippo, and a goal from graduate student Meagan Maxwell, 6-1. At the 1:12-mark, the Bears countered to close the first quarter with a goal, 6-2. At the start of the second quarter, senior Peyton Youngblood scored her first of the game, 7-3. Later, Lenior-Rhyne was able to net one to cut the deficit to 7-3. With back-to-back goals by graduate student Ali Davis, UMO extended the lead by six, 9-3. Scoring her 34th goal of the season, Hamilton put one in the back of the cage, going into halftime, 10-3. 
 
At the start of the second half, LR scored at the 12:33 mark, 10-4. Hungry for more, Davis and Hamilton scored consecutive goals, 12-4. Closing the third quarter, the Bears netted their fifth goal of the game, 12-5. In the last frame of the game, Mount Olive were able to run away with the win as they scored six goals against the Bears. Leading off, graduate student Zoe Dougherty scored at the 13:44 mark, 13-5. Two minutes later, Lenior-Rhyne scored, 13-6. Scoring her sixth goal of the game, Hamilton put one past the keeper, 14-6. Later senior Ellie Fedorowski scored off a free position opportunity, 15-6. Just 21 seconds later, graduate student Morgan Paige netted another goal for the Trojans, 16-6. With under six minutes to go, the Bears scored, stopping the running clock, 16-7. Scoring her second of the game, P. Youngblood put another past the keeper, 17-7. With under two minutes to go, LR scored to bring the score 17-8. With only two seconds left, freshman Hannah Legge scored her fifth goal of the season to seal the road victory, 18-8. 
 
Hamilton finished the game with six goals, two assists, and four ground balls. Fellow teammate Davis finished the game snagging six draw controls, three goals, and a ground ball. 
 
Senior goalkeeper Claire Hagen collected nine saves while facing 17 shots on goal. 
 
Mount Olive travels to Central, South Carolina, to play conference rival Southern Wesleyan on Friday, April 7 at 3 p.m.