Four Trojans receive Freshman of the Month

MOUNT OLIVE – The University of Mount Olive featured four December Freshman of the Month recipients in their respective sports, as announced by the league office on Friday.

Maleiya Hill of women’s basketball, Ashley Lindsey of women’s track and field, Shane Peterson of men’s basketball and Dallas Wilson of men’s wrestling each claimed the accolade from the conference.

A 5-foot-4 freshman guard from Durham, Hill averaged 8.9 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and three steals per game while starting all seven games for UMO in December. She converted 53.3 percent (24 of 45) from the floor and scored in double-figures in three games. The Hillside product also posted four contests with at least five assists.

Hill had her top performances of the year in a pair of overtime wins this month. She finished with 16 points on seven of 13 shots with five rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal over 36 minutes in a 71-65 overtime win on Dec. 14 against Emmanuel in conference play. Hill finished 2022 with a career-high 21 points on eight of 12 shooting while adding three rebounds, six assists and five steals in a 95-91 double-overtime victory versus USC-Aiken on Dec. 31.

A throws athlete from Barco, Lindsey registered a conference qualifying distance in the shot put in her collegiate debut with the program on Dec. 4. at the JDL Early Bird Invitational. She posted a toss of 39 feet, 1/2 inch on her final attempt to place fourth in the event. Her distance ranks sixth in the Southeast Region and third in the conference this season.

Peterson continued his stellar freshman campaign by averaging 11.8 points over four games in December, including three contests in double figures. He made 15 of 30 (50 percent) from the floor while converting 44.0 percent (11 of 25) from beyond the arc. He also averaged two rebounds and 1.3 assists per game after playing just over 30 minutes a game.

He finished with 14 points on four of five shooting with three treys over 23 minutes in a 100-91 win at King on Dec. 17. He closed 2022 by matching his career-high with 15 points on five of 10 from the field with four three-pointers while adding three assists, two rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes at Wingate on Dec. 31.

A redshirt freshman from Stedman, Wilson registered a 10-3 record in December and ranks 12th in the nation via The Open Mat individual rankings in the 149-weight class. He produced nearly half of his wins this month via technical fall (four victories).

On Dec. 18, Wilson became the first wrestler in program history to podium at the Midwest Classic, the largest tournament in all of Division II. He posted a 5-3 record at the individual competition and placed eighth overall in the tournament after advancing through the consolation bracket. Wilson recorded a 5-0 mark in dual meet competition, including a 3-0 weekend at the Carolina Clash on Dec. 3 while facing a pair of nationally ranked programs in West Liberty and Glenville State. He also collected a conference victory over Emmanuel at the Trojan Duals on Dec. 11.

During the 2022-23 athletic year, Mount Olive has collected 11 freshman of the month honors.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics