Prichard becomes all-time leading scorer

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 10, 2009 1:46 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- When your offensive weapons misfire, you find another option.

Mount Olive did just that Monday evening.

Point guard Shequanta McGee notched her first-ever collegiate double-double -- 10 points and 12 rebounds -- in the Trojans' 67-48 conquest of Conference Carolinas rival Pfeiffer University at Kornegay Arena. Sophomore forward Brittany Miller contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds for Mount Olive, which extended its school-record win streak to 12 games.

"That might be a school record," said MOC coach Wendy Lee of McGee's performance. "I don't recall a point guard ever getting 12 rebounds in a game. Shequanta and Brittany stepped up tonight, and other players did, too, to help our main scorers.

"Those players did just what they had to do and it's really pulling us together as a team right now. We're relying on each other and just not one person to carry us."

McGee and Miller, however, didn't overshadow a record-setting night for senior Tomeka Prichard. The Havelock native knocked down 16 points and became the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,222 points. She surpassed Teneal Boone (1,220 points) and Twana Jeter (1,218) on the program's scoring chart.

"I had no idea I was closing in on the scoring record," said Prichard. "Nobody told me anything about it. But I'm very excited about the record and even happier we got the win."

Mount Olive (18-3 overall, 14-2 CC) claimed its fourth consecutive victory over Pfeiffer and eighth overall in their last 12 meetings. The Falcons, however, lead the series 14-8 since 1998-99.

Playing for the third time in five days, the road-weary Trojans nearly let a 21-point, second-half lead slip away. Pfeiffer climbed within nine points twice as Mount Olive converted just four field goals during a 10-minute span.

"We started to fight a lot harder, play defense and box out (for rebounds)," said Falcons head coach Jill Thomas. "We did what we had to do to get back in it, but we had too big of a deficit to overcome. We had our moments where we did well, but we got out-played for 40 minutes tonight."

Leading 55-46, the Trojans ended the game with a 12-4 run. Prichard's 3-pointer off Miller's assist and her fast-break layup -- the record-setting basket -- off LaPorsha Davis' assist ignited the offense. Davis and Whitby also scored during the decisive stretch as Mount Olive improved to 9-1 at home this season.

Prichard also contributed a game-high eight assists, blocked three shots and picked the Falcons for five steals in 37-plus minutes. Davis finished with 11 points, while Whitby supplied nine points.

"The fact we won being tired ... not having fresh legs pleased me tonight," said Lee. "We were still able to dig down with guts and grit. I was proud of their ability to persevere through some difficult times.

"We won, but we don't feel good about how we played. This is a group that looks forward to the next game and gets focused on what we need to do to get better."

The Trojans return to action Thursday at Coker (S.C.) College. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m.