BELMONT, N.C (Feb. 22) - Despite a high-scoring first quarter on Saturday, the University of Mount Olive women's basketball program dropped a 72-44 decision at Belmont Abbey in Conference Carolinas play.
With the loss, the Trojans fall to 3-20 this season with a 2-16 mark in league action. After a schedule change earlier this week due to some extreme weather in North Carolina, UMO will quickly return to the court Monday, February 24 to face long-time rival Barton at Kornegay Arena. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey continues another stellar season with a 21-5 overall record and a 15-3 mark in conference play.
Senior
Alexis Durham finished with eight points on four-of-seven shooting while tallying three assists, two steals, and one block in 28 minutes. Fellow guard
Janna Tupuola, a freshman, totaled eight points with five rebounds and one steal. Sophomore
Anna Miller contributed six points behind a pair of three-pointers, adding four rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes. Freshman guard
Jerin Truesdale had a productive afternoon as she led her team in multiple categories, recording seven rebounds and six assists, while scoring six points in 26 minutes of action.
The Trojans had their best first quarter of offense all season long as they scored 20 points. UMO found themselves down early 9-2 after Belmont Abbey hit a three-pointer with 7:54 left in the quarter. Mount Olive, however, quickly found success offensively as it went on a 7-2 scoring run in the next minute and a half to make it a two-point game. The Trojans would never take the lead but went punch for punch with the Crusaders for the rest of the first, as Belmont Abbey held a 26-20 edge. In second quarter, the UMO offense faltered by only scoring six points in the 10-minute segment. Belmont Abbey saw a brief offensive drought as well before going 14-6 run in the final five minutes of the second quarter. The Crusaders went into the break with a significant 42-26 advantage.
The third quarter brought along a similar look as Belmont Abbey swarmed the Trojans on the defensive side of the ball and turned it into quick offense as they outscored UMO 18-4 in the quarter. In fourth quarter, Mount Olive got back up to speed offensively as they outscored Belmont Abbey 14-12 in the frame. The Trojans mounted a 9-2 run in the middle of the quarter led by Tupuola with four points. The two sides would exchange baskets a few more times until the final buzzer sounded for a 72-44 win for the Crusaders.
The Trojans finished the game shooting 34.6 percent (18-of-52) from the floor and converted 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Crusaders shot at a 40.0 clip (24-of-60) from the field and made 16-of-17 (94.1 percent) from the free-throw line. Belmont Abbey held a 39-35 rebounding advantage with 27 points off turnovers. Mount Olive scored 23 points off the bench and 20 in the paint.
Belmont Abbey senior Peyton Nation scored a game-high 24 points with 10 rebounds and three steals in 27 minutes. Fellow senior Ivana Bijic added nine points courtesy of a trio of three-pointers, adding four rebounds, three steals, and two assists in 21 minutes.
Mount Olive will travel back home and start to prepare for its final home contest of the year against Barton at Kornegay Arena with tip-off set for 5 p.m.
