MOC Women set to battle St. Augustine's

Published in Sports on December 30, 2004 1:56 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- The "magic number" for tonight's women's basketball game between Mount Olive and St. Augustine's is 60. Mount Olive is unbeaten this season when holding opponents under 60 points, while St. Augustine's has only one win in four games when failing to reach 60 points.

Mount Olive hopes to go into 2005 on a winning note as the Trojans travel to Raleigh this evening to take on St. Augustine's in non-conference women's basketball. Tip-off is 6 p.m.

Mount Olive (3-2) is playing for the first time since its 62-55 victory over Eckerd at St. Petersburg, Fla. Latoria Harvey, who recorded 15 double-doubles last season, notched her first double-double of 2004-05 with season highs of 20 points and 14 rebounds. Harvey, who has reached double digits in rebounds in each of her last three games, is two rebounds shy of averaging a double-double this season with 10.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest. Ladora Charles leads the Trojans with 12.8 points per game, including 17 points in the win against Eckerd.

As a team, defense and rebounding have been the keys for the Trojans.

Mount Olive is holding opponents to an average of 52.0 points per game so far this season, including an average of 46.3 points per contest in its three wins. In their two losses, the Trojans allowed 61 points vs.

Livingstone and 60 points vs. Barry (Fla.).

Mount Olive has outrebounded each of its first five opponents by double figures. The Trojans are averaging 44.8 rebounds per game, while their opponents are averaging only 31.0 boards per contest for a rebound margin of 13.8 per game. Last season, the highest rebound margin in the nation was 12.0 rebounds per game. The first NCAA II national statistics rankings will be announced next week.

St. Augustine's (6-3) has been off one day longer than the Trojans, having defeated winless Columbia Union 82-59 on December 20. Latika Ross led five players in double figures with 22 points, while St. Augustine's outrebounded Columbia Union 42-29. St. Augustine's is 1-3 when held under 60 points, but has scored at least 70 points in each of its other five wins this season.

Mount Olive defeated St. Augustine's 69-58 last year at College Hall as the Trojans saw a 26-point second-half lead trimmed down to 10 points late in the game. Charles scored 20 points and Harvey added 18 for Mount Olive.