Harvey, Boone lead MOC women in victory

Published in Sports on January 14, 2005 1:56 PM

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HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- Perhaps the only thing better than the Mount Olive College women's basketball team remaining unbeaten in conference play was assistant coach Brandy Smith's reaction after learning the only other unbeaten team suffered its first conference loss.

Latoria Harvey scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half and Teneal Boone pulled down 12 rebounds as Mount Olive extended its best-ever start in conference play with a 71-60 victory over Coker in NCAA Division II Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference play Thursday evening.

The win, coupled with Belmont Abbey's 97-84 loss at Anderson, left the Trojans as the lone remaining CVAC basketball team -- women or men -- unbeaten in conference play.

Mount Olive (7-4, 5-0 CVAC) broke an early 2-2 tie and never looked back, building the lead to double digits midway through the first half and taking its biggest lead at 36-14 on Leann Simms' fastbreak layup with 2:18 left in the half. Simms scored eight of her 12 points in the first half.

Coker (4-8, 1-4) scored the final five points of the half to pull within 36-19 at halftime.

Ladora Charles opened the second half with a 3-pointer and Harvey followed with a basket as the Trojans brought the lead back to 22. Coker cut the lead to 17 points before Charles's basket with 11:43 remaining capped a 10-2 run and gave the Trojans their biggest lead at 51-26.

Mount Olive still had a 24-point lead with five minutes left when Coker suddenly got back into the game, hitting 9-of-10 free throws during a 16-2 run to slash the Trojans' lead to 66-56 with 1:11 remaining. But the Trojans' starters returned to the floor and Charles hit a pair of free throws to halt the rally as the Trojans sealed the win in the final minute.

Charles scored 12 points and was one of three Trojans with four assists, joining Keona Corley and Melanie Cobb. Corley also recorded a game-high six steals.

India Elliott, who played at North Duplin High, and Tyesha Ervin led Coker with 15 points apiece.

Mount Olive currently sits atop the CVAC women's basketball standings, a half-game ahead of Lees-McRae, Belmont Abbey and Anderson. Ironically, those are the Trojans' next three opponents.

Mount Olive returns to action Saturday as the Trojans play host to Lees-McRae in a CVAC match-up. Tip-off is 2 p.m. at College Hall. Mount Olive plays host to Belmont Abbey Monday, then travels to Anderson a week from Saturday.

MOC Sports Information