Trojans sweep Crusaders

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 22, 2008 2:27 PM

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BELMONT -- Brandon Streeter posted a double-double -- career-high 28 points, 10 rebounds -- as No. 11-ranked Mount Olive throttled Belmont Abbey 93-73 on Thursday evening.

Mount Olive (21-4 overall) improved to 16-2 in Conference Carolinas action and assured itself of hosting a quarterfinal-round game in the season-ending conference tournament. It was the Trojans' 16th win in their last 17 outings and completed a regular-season sweep of the Crusaders.

The Trojans took their biggest lead of the half at 30-15 after Streeter converted a three-point play with 10:29 left in the half. Belmont Abbey (15-11, 13-6) cut the margin to single digits after Jonathan Jackson's 3-pointer pulled the Crusaders with 34-27.

Streeter's dunk highlighted a late first-half run as Mount Olive built the lead back to as many as 15 points and the Trojans went into the locker room with a 49-36 lead. Streeter had 17 points at the break.

Belmont Abbey drew within single digits again after Chad Patus' three-point play with 16:41 remaining cut Mount Olive's lead to 53-44. But Easley and Mike Holloman combined to hit three 3-pointers in a span of 96 seconds as Mount Olive extended the lead to 64-47 with 14:49 left to play.

The lead never fell below 14 points and grew to as many as 22 points.

Streeter, who ranks in the top 10 in the nation in field goal percentage, was 10-for-13 from the field as Mount Olive shot 61.7 percent (37-for-60) from the floor as a team. The Trojans also won the rebounding battle 39-32. Holloman pulled down seven rebounds, while Justin Melton finished with six rebounds.

MOC win triumph

BELMONT -- Senior guard Lakeisha Monroe pumped in a game-high 21 points as Mount Olive edged Belmont Abbey 72-66 on Thursday evening.

Tomeka Prichard and Brittany Miller buried back-to-back 3-pointers in a game-clinching, 11-0 run as the Trojans (16-9 overall) improved to a program-best 14-4 in Conference Carolinas play.

Mount Olive clinched a quarterfinal-round home game for the season-ending Conference Carolinas tournament.

Monroe had 13 first-half points, while Helen Moore scored 12 of her 14 points in the first 20 minutes.

The Trojans led by as many as six points early in the second half, but Crusaders used a 13-2 run to regain the lead as Marquez's three-point play with 13:54 remaining gave the Crusaders a 50-45 lead.

Monroe's steal and three-point play tied the game 59-59 with exactly six minutes left. Prichard's 3-pointer 26 seconds later broke the tie and Miller's three with 4:50 remaining gave Mount Olive a 65-59 lead.

Keona Corley finished with 14 points, seven assists, five steals and five rebounds for the Trojans. Prichard scored nine of her 11 points in the second half, all from beyond the arc. Alisa Jones led all players with nine rebounds.