UMO defeats Emmanuel in overtime

MOUNT OLIVE – The Trojans overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter before securing a 71-65 win in overtime against Emmanuel on Dec. 14 in Conference Carolinas action at Kornegay Arena.

With the win, the University of Mount Olive women’s basketball team claimed its fourth straight victory and improved to 6-4 overall with a 3-1 record in league play. The Trojans have won their last three meetings versus the Lions, including back-to-back wins at home. Meanwhile, Emmanuel dropped to 3-5 this year and has a 3-2 mark in conference action.

Junior Laila Harris set a career-high with 23 points on nine of 15 from the floor while totaling six rebounds, two steals and four blocks in 43 minutes. She has now recorded consecutive 20-point games and set new career scoring highs in back-to-back contests. Harris leads the team and ranks fourth in the conference with 14.8 points per game.

Freshman Maleiya Hill registered a season-high 16 points on seven of 13 shots with five rebounds and six assists over 35 minutes of action. Junior Haleigh Crews notched 12 points on five of nine from the field with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 37 minutes, while teammate Reagan Hune finished with 10 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.

Entering the fourth quarter, the Trojans trailed 53-42 before quickly closing the gap to 55-50 over the opening two minutes. Emmanuel countered with a layup with 5:45 left in regulation before UMO scored eight straight points to take a 58-57 lead. After a nearly three-minute scoreless drought, the Lions tied the game at 58 from the free-throw line to send the contest to overtime. In the extra period, the game remained close and was tied at 64 with two minutes remaining before Mount Olive mounted a 7-1 run, led by Harris with four points, to seal the 71-65 win.

In the first quarter, both teams exchanged baskets over the initial seven-plus minutes with the score tied at 10. The Lions answered with a three-pointer as part of an 8-3 run to close out the opening quarter with an 18-13 advantage.

The Trojans started the second with an 8-1 run to take a 21-19 lead before Emmanuel tied the game at 21 from the line with 6:16 left. The Lions went into halftime with a 35-32 advantage following four straight points close the quarter.

Emmanuel started the third with eight unanswered points to build a 43-32 lead before Mount Olive responded with an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 45-40 with 4:28 remaining in the quarter. The Lions finished the third with an 8-2 to hold a 53-42 advantage.

The Trojans finished the game shooting 45.3 percent (29 of 64) from the floor while converting 13 of 21 (61.9 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Lions shot at a 35.4 percent clip (23 of 65) from the field and made six of 17 (35.3 percent) from beyond the arc. Emmanuel finished with a 48-38 rebounding advantage and scored 14 second-chance points. UMO tallied 46 points in the paint and 22 points off turnovers.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics