MOC women lose

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on January 9, 2007 2:28 PM

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CHARLOTTE -- Alisa Jones scored a career-high 23 points, but Mount Olive was unable to overcome a late run as the Trojans fell to Queens 80-73 in Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference women's basketball Monday night. The game saw 11 ties and 17 lead changes.

Mount Olive (4-7 overall, 1-3 CVAC) led by as many as seven points in the first half after three consecutive baskets by Helen Moore gave the Trojans a 30-23 lead with 7:13 left before halftime. Queens (4-7, 1-3) responded with 11 unanswered points, sparked by three-pointers on three consecutive possessions.

The Trojans regained the lead as Jones recorded steals on the defensive end and finished with layups on the offensive end on back-to-back possessions. A late free throw by Queens knotted the score at 38-38 at halftime.

Mount Olive was plagued by foul trouble throughout the first half, as Moore was saddled with four fouls, while Sierra Medeiros and Brittney Robich were whistled for three fouls apiece. Moore, who entered the game as the Trojans' leading scorer this season with more than 15 points per game, left the contest with 5:45 remaining in the first half and sat out the first 11 minutes of the second half.

Jones scored the first four points of the second half, but Erynn Hayes scored on each of Queens' next two possessions to tie the game at 42-42. The lead changed hands five times in a span of two minutes before Hayes' three-pointer with 14:20 remaining extended Queens' lead to four.

The Trojans tied the game after Robich sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around a Queens basket and Tomeka Prichard's jumper with 10:17 remaining put Mount Olive back on top 56-54.

Ali Umbarger sparked a 10-2 Queens run with a pair of three-pointers as the Royals matched their biggest lead at 64-58 with 7:48 left to play. But Moore's first basket since returning to the floor capped a run of six unanswered points and the Trojans tied the game with 5:46 remaining.

After Queens regained the lead on Umbarger's fourth three-pointer of the night, Robich and Jones combined to hit 3-of-4 free throws to force the 11th tie of the game. But Phylicia Turner, who was a perfect 8-for-8 from the line, broke a 67-67 tie with 4:17 left in the contest and Queens led the rest of the way.

Robich finished with 18 points for her third double-figure performance in her last five games. Moore finished with 16 points despite playing only 20 minutes. Keona Corley dished out 10 assists for her third double-digit assists performance in her last four games. Corley, who leads the CVAC in assists and steals, also recorded four steals. Keshaun Mozee, who established a career high with eight assists in the Trojans' previous game, added six assists Monday, including a behind-the-back pass that led to a fast break basket by Corley.

After being outrebounded 24-18 in the first half, Mount Olive finished with a 43-37 advantage on the boards for the game. Jill Oaks pulled down a game-high nine rebounds for the Trojans.

Turner led four Queens players with 21 points, while Hayes added 17 points and Umbarger finished with 13 points.

Both Mount Olive and Queens exceeded their season scoring average as both teams entered Monday's contest averaging 62 points per game. Queens outscored the Trojans 20-5 from the free throw line.

Mount Olive concludes its three-game road trip Thursday as the Trojans travel to Hartsville, S.C., to take on Coker in CVAC action. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.