Trojan women cruise

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on January 27, 2009 1:46 PM

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MOC Sports Information

LAURINBURG -- Brittany Miller scored a career-high 18 points on 9-for-10 shooting as Mount Olive College extended its winning streak to eight games with a 90-53 victory over in-state rival St. Andrews on Monday evening.

The Trojans (14-3 overall) seized sole possession of the Conference Carolinas lead at 10-2.

Mount Olive led 32-27 when Whitby found Rashonda Speed underneath with 26 seconds left in the opening half. St. Andrews missed a shot on its next possession and Whitby sent a downcourt pass to Brittney Robich, who hit a layup with two seconds left to give Mount Olive a 36-27 lead at halftime.

In the first meeting between the two teams in November, Mount Olive built a 30-point halftime lead on its way to an 88-47 victory. St. Andrews entered the game winless in conference play, but stayed within striking range throughout the first half.

"Coach (Wendy) Lee reminded us at halftime that we have to ignore records and previous games," said Miller, a sophomore from Holly Springs. "I think her talk had an effect on us in the second half."

A block by Prichard and a steal by Whitby led to a pair of Trojan baskets early in the second half and Mount Olive led by double figures the rest of the way. The lead was 16 when Prichard hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Rashonda Speed's layup capped a 15-0 run and gave the Trojans a 67-36 lead with 9:35 remaining.

The margin never fell below 26 points the remainder of the second half.

Whitby scored 17 points for Mount Olive, while Prichard finished with 11 points. Robich tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and six rebounds, while Shequanta McGee added 10 points and seven assists. The Trojans nearly placed seven players in double figures as Speed and Jhnea Turner each scored eight points.