FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. (Dec. 17) – Despite a season-high 15 points from freshman
Jerin Truesdale on Tuesday afternoon, the University of Mount Olive women's basketball program suffered a 60-43 loss at Emmanuel in Conference Carolinas play.
With the loss, the Trojans fall to 1-9 this season behind a 0-6 record in conference action. Emmanuel has won the last three meetings as the series moves to 10-10 overall dating back to 2014. Meanwhile, the Lions improve to 4-7 overall with a 3-3 mark in league play.
Truesdale finished with a team-leading 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting while adding four rebounds, and one assist in 28 minutes. Junior
Jada Priebe registered nine points, three rebounds, three blocks, and one steal in 32 minutes. Fellow junior
Savannah McAfee tallied eight points, eight rebounds, two assists, one block, and two steals in 29 minutes.
McAfee made the opening layup of the contest before the sides traded baskets for the majority of the first quarter. The Lions managed to convert a jumper in the final minutes to hold a 10-7 advantage after the initial 10 minutes of the game. Emmanuel extended the lead to 15-7 early in the second before UMO recorded six of the next 10 points to trim the deficit to 19-13 with 5:17 to go. In the final three-plus minutes, the Lions mounted an 8-4 run, scoring most of their points at the free-throw line, to take a 27-17 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Trojans remained within striking distance behind the efforts of Truesdale with seven points scored on six minutes of action, 37-26. Emmanuel converted two of its final five attempts to hold a 41-28 advantage at the end of the third. The Lions opened up their lead in the final quarter after an offensive surge as they had a 56-37 edge with just over two minutes remaining. Mount Olive made a trio of shots in the final moments in a 60-43 loss on the road.
The Trojans finished the game shooting 34.5 percent (19-of-55) from the floor and converted 4-of-8 (50.0 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Lions shot at a 40.0 clip (20-of-50) from the field and made 18-of-26 (69.2 percent) from the charity stripe. Emmanuel held a slight 32-29 rebounding advantage with 21 points off turnovers. Mount Olive scored 28 points in the paint and registered 13 points off turnovers.
Emmanuel sophomore Naomi Roberts finished with a game-high 21 points on 5-of-12 shooting with five rebounds, and three assists in 36 minutes on the court. Senior Maddie Futch also reached double-figures with 11 points while grabbing six rebounds in 33 minutes.
Mount Olive returns to the court on Thursday, Dec. 19, to face Lander in non-conference action with tip-off at noon.
