SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Feb. 8) – Despite a season-high 17-point performance from sophomore
Anna Miller, the Trojans were unable to prevent a second-half surge in a 63-49 loss at Converse in Conference Carolinas play on Saturday.
With the loss, the University of Mount Olive women's basketball program drops to 3-17 overall with a 2-13 record in conference action. After winning 22 straight meetings against the Valkyries dating back to 2012, the Trojans have dropped the last two contests in the series. Meanwhile, Converse improves to 6-15 this season behind a 4-10 mark in league play.
Miller led the Trojans with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting while adding six rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal in 33 minutes. Junior
Jada Priebe contributed nine points and nine rebounds, while freshman
Jerin Truesdale finished with seven points, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
In a low-scoring first quarter, the Trojans held a 4-2 advantage following a pair of layups by Miller. After a two-plus minute scoreless drought, the Valkyries took the lead on a three-pointer at the 4:33 mark before stretching the advantage to 8-4. Neither side scored in the final 3:30 of the quarter. In the second, both sides exchanged baskets for six minutes, as Converse held a 16-14 edge. The Trojans managed to stay within striking distance following a three-pointer by Priebe in the closing seconds to trail 23-21 at the break.
Mount Olive remained close early in the third quarter before the Valkyries mounted an 11-2 run to extend their lead to 41-28. The Trojans scored six unanswered points to trim the deficit to 41-34 entering the final 10 minutes. Mount Olive scored seven of the initial nine points in the fourth to close the gap to 43-41. With 4:36 left in regulation, Converse held a 49-46 edge before pulling away with a 14-3 run over the final four minutes to win by a 63-49 margin.
UMO shot at a 28.8 clip (19-of-66) from the floor while going 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) from three-point range. Meanwhile, Converse finished the game shooting 36.1 percent (22-of-61) and converted 10-of-15 (66.7 percent) from the charity stripe. The Trojans held a 51-39 rebounding advantage with 19 points off turnovers, while the Valkyries totaled 24 points in the paint.
Sophomore Tatiana Brown scored a game-high 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting with six rebounds and one steal. Senior Reagan Cameron registered 17 points and four steals while senior Zariyah Washington tallied 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Mount Olive returns to the court on Tuesday, Feb. 11, to face Francis Marion at Kornegay Arena at 5 p.m.
