MOUNT OLIVE (Dec. 7) – Despite a career-high 13 points from senior
Amber Nealy off the bench, the University of Mount Olive women's basketball team dropped a 70-52 decision versus UNC Pembroke on Saturday afternoon in Conference Carolinas divisional play.
With the loss, the Trojans fall to 1-7 this season behind a 0-4 record in conference action. UNCP earned a fifth straight victory in the series and secured its first divisional win of the year. Meanwhile, the Braves improve to 8-2 overall with a 3-1 mark in league play.
Nealy finished with a team-high 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting while converting three-of-four from beyond the arc. She also added three assists and one steal in 28 minutes off the bench.
Junior
Jada Priebe totaled eight points, 11 rebounds, and two steals in 36 minutes. Fellow junior
Keri Cooper registered seven points, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal in 25 minutes off the bench. Senior
Alexis Durham contributed six points, three rebounds, four assists, and one block in 33 minutes.
The Trojans built an early 5-2 lead in the first quarter following a three-pointer from Durham. UNCP countered with 21 unanswered points over a five-plus minute stretch after converting 9-of-10 shots and forcing seven turnovers to lead 23-5 at the 2:31 mark. Mount Olive tallied the final three points of the quarter to trail 23-8. In the second quarter, UMO cut into the deficit in the initial four-plus minutes behind an 11-2 rally, led by Nealy with five points, 25-19. The Braves regained a double-digit advantage before the Trojans scored seven of the final 10 points to head into halftime trailing by a 35-29 margin.
UMO closed the gap to four points in the opening minute of the third quarter before UNC Pembroke established a 10-point lead following a 10-4 run, 45-35. With 4:14 left in the third, the Braves maintained their lead and took a 54-41 advantage into the final quarter. UNCP delivered a strong performance in the fourth to hold a 69-45 lead with 3:08 remaining. The Trojans closed the contest on a 7-1 run to fall by a final score of 70-52.
The Trojans finished the game shooting 33.9 percent (19-of-56) from the floor and converted 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Braves shot at a 39.7 clip (25-of-63) from the field and made 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) from the free-throw line. UNCP held a 43-36 rebounding advantage with 28 points off turnovers. Mount Olive scored 25 points off the bench and registered 20 in the paint.
Graduate student Kelci Adams scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-17 attempts while adding eight rebounds, three assists, and one block in 34 minutes. Senior Zaria Clark finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals in 33 minutes.
Mount Olive will be idle for the week before traveling to face Chowan in divisional play on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m.
