Three Trojans selected freshman of the month

MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive featured three November Freshman of the Month recipients in their respective sports, as announced Conference Carolinas.

Laila Anderson of women’s basketball, Shane Peterson of men’s basketball, and Jeffrey Richards of men’s wrestling all earned the honor for the first time from the conference.

A 5-foot-5 freshman guard from Burlington, Anderson is averaging 8.7 points and 1.7 steals per game playing primarily off the bench for the Trojans. She has tallied four double-digit performances and ranked second on the team in scoring in November while tying for the team lead with 12 steals. Anderson finished with 11 points, two assists, and one steal in 24 minutes off the bench in a 57-47 win over preseason favorite UNC Pembroke on Nov. 22. She also put together her best career performance against Chowan after leading all scorers with 19 points with four treys, six steals and two assists in 32 minutes off the bench.

Peterson, from Burlington, earned and has thrived in a starting role for the Trojans this season as a freshman. He has scored in double-figures in five of nine contests in November and is averaging 11.0 points per game, which ranks third on the team this year. Peterson also converted the most three-pointers for the team with 22 treys last month. His best performance was against Coker on Nov. 19 after scoring 18 points on six-of-nine shooting from beyond the arc.

A freshman from Mocksville, Richards posted a 9-1 record in November and currently ranks third in Super Region II in the 133 weight class. On Nov. 6, he posted an unblemished 5-0 record in his collegiate debut to claim the individual title at 133 pounds at the Pembroke Classic. In dual meet competition, Richards has posted a 4-1 mark, including a pair of conference victories via fall over Lincoln Memorial and Coker.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics