Trojan women win, men lose at Belmont Abbey

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 11, 2011 1:47 PM

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MOC Sports Information

BELMONT -- Joneiqua Gary's 3-pointer triggered a game-ending, 9-2 run and Mount Olive College turned back in-state foe Belmont Abbey, 62-52, in a Conference Carolinas women's basketball game Thursday evening.

Gary pumped in 12 points for the Trojans, who had three players in double figures. Jasmine Whitby scored 15 points, while Andrea Jones chipped in 14.

MOC (15-6 overall, 12-3 CC) extended its modest win streak to three games and kept sole possession of second place in the league. The Trojans continue a three-game, conference road swing Saturday at Erskine (S.C.).

The Crusaders (11-10, 10-5) constantly chipped away at a second-half deficit and climbed within 48-45 on Kelsey Long's layup with 6:21 left in regulation.

Jasmine McDonald, who scored Mount Olive's last basket with just under 11 minutes left, ended the Trojans' five-minute scoring drought with a layup. But Shayla Jackson converted a three-point play with 5:38 remaining to pull Belmont Abbey within 50-48.

Alyssa Luebs gave the Trojans some breathing room, hitting a layup and a free throw to push the margin to five. Candace Fox made it a one-possession game again after her jumper drew Belmont Abbey within 53-50 with 4:30 left to play.

But that would be the Crusaders' last field goal of the game.

Gary hit her second three-pointer of the game on Mount Olive's next possession and Luebs added a basket after a Crusader turnover to extend the Trojans' lead to 58-50 with 2:58 left to play. After a Belmont Abbey miss, Gary's basket with 2:27 remaining pushed the margin to double figures to stay.

McDonald's basket with 2:04 remaining matched the Trojans' biggest lead at 62-50. Long hit a pair of free throws for Belmont Abbey with 31 seconds left to cap the scoring.

Whitby and Brittany Miller shared game-high honors with eight rebounds apiece. Whitby dished out six assists.

Men

BELMONT -- Mount Olive shaved a 10-point deficit to one possession, but Belmont Abbey pulled away for an 84-71 victory on the Conference Carolinas men's basketball scene Thursday evening.

The Trojans (10-11 overall, 5-8 CC) endured their fifth consecutive loss.

Brandon Allen and Derek Staton finished with 12 points apiece for MOC, while Mahamed Ibrahim added 10 points. Staton dished out a game-high eight assists and Dory Hines had seven assists. Ibrahim led all players with seven rebounds as the Trojans outrebounded Belmont Abbey 31-25.

Aleks Mitrovic helped Mount Olive stay within striking range in the second half, scoring six straight points and finishing with a career-high 11 points. Brandon Allen's 3-pointer with 12:21 remaining pulled Mount Olive within 53-49. But the Trojans went more than four minutes without a field goal as Belmont Abbey built the lead back to double figures.