ROME, Ga. (Jan. 25) – Following a season-low shooting performance, the University of Mount Olive women's basketball team suffered a 48-29 loss at Shorter on Saturday afternoon in Conference Carolinas play.
With the loss, the Trojans fall to 3-14 this season with a 2-10 mark in league action. Conference Carolinas newcomer Shorter sweeps the season series over Mount Olive and continues to lead the Southwest Division. Meanwhile, the Lady Hawks improves to 13-3 overall behind an 8-2 record in conference play.
Freshman
Janna Tupuola led the Trojans with seven points and one rebound in 18 minutes on the court. Senior
Amber Nealy tallied six points in the loss while sophomore
Anna Miller added five points, one rebound, and one steal in 20 minutes. Freshman
Jerin Truesdale contributed four points, seven rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 13 minutes off the bench.
Both teams struggled from the field in the opening minutes, as the Lady Hawks netted the first basket at the 5:09 mark of the first quarter. After exchanging the next four baskets, Shorter stretched the lead to 9-4 on a three-pointer to hold a five-point lead heading into the second quarter. The Lady Hawks opened up the advantage to 16-4 following seven unanswered points before Tupuola halted the run with four straight points, 16-8. After a 12-0 run by Shorter, the Trojans scored the final four points of the half to head into the break trailing by a 28-12 margin.
In the third quarter, the Lady Hawks extended the lead to 36-12 with eight consecutive points in the initial two-plus minutes. After nearly a three-minute scoreless drought, the Trojans netted their first point at the 5:19 mark before Shorter scored seven of the final 10 points to hold a 43-16 advantage entering the final quarter. Mount Olive mounted a 6-0 run in the initial moments of the fourth to close the gap to 45-23 with 7:38 to go. After a layup by the Lady Hawks at the 6:10 mark, the Trojans made three straight shots to trail 47-29 with over a minute left. Shorter made a free throw in the final seconds to capture the double-digit win, 48-29.
The Trojans finished the game shooting a season-low 21.2 percent (11-of-52) from the floor and converted 1-of-10 (10.0 percent) from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Lady Hawks shot at a 35.8 clip (19-of-53) from the field and made six-of-seven (85.7 percent) from the free-throw line. Shorter held a 42-26 rebounding advantage with 30 points in the paint. Mount Olive scored 15 points off the bench and 14 points in the paint.
Shorter junior Tiara Lewis recorded a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 27 minutes. Sophomore Amya Patterson reached double-figures with 10 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes.
Mount Olive will be idle for a week before returning to the court for the 43rd Annual Church Night on Saturday, Feb. 1, against King with tip-off set for 4 p.m. in Kornegay Arena.
