Mount Olive suffers loss at Chowan

MURFREESBORO – Despite a game-high 24 points from freshman Laila Anderson on Feb. 8, the Trojans suffered a 75-64 loss at Chowan on the road in Conference Carolinas action.

With the loss, the University of Mount Olive women’s basketball team fell to 12-13 overall with an 8-9 mark in conference play. With three games remaining in the regular season, UMO sits in sixth place in the league standings with the postseason tournament approaching in a few weeks. Meanwhile, Chowan improved to 14-8 this season with a 10-6 record in league action.

Anderson delivered her fourth 20-point performance of her career after scoring 24 points on eight of 16 shooting while converting five of six from three-point range. She added three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 32 minutes. Over the last three games, Anderson is averaging 21.7 points per game while shooting 50 percent (24 of 48) from the floor.

Junior Reagan Hune finished with a double-double after totaling 13 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes. Freshman Maleiya Hill produced eight points, two assists and two steals in 36 minutes, while senior Makayla Kimble and sophomore Tiandria Tucker each tallied seven points and five rebounds.

In the first quarter, Anderson kicked off the game with a three-pointer before building a 9-6 advantage at the 5:20 mark. The Hawks responded with a 7-2 run in just over a minute stretch to take a 13-11 lead. After a two-minute scoreless drought, Chowan closed the quarter by scoring five of the following six points to hold an 18-12 advantage. After a slow start to the second quarter, the Trojans totaled six straight points to cut the deficit to 22-20. Over the final four-plus minutes of the quarter, Chowan went on a 9-3 run to lead by a 31-23 margin at halftime.

The Hawks built their lead to double figures at the 6:11 mark with a 40-30 advantage before the teams exchanged points over the final six-plus minutes of the third. Chowan entered the final quarter with a 55-42 lead, but UMO closed the gap on three of four shooting to trail 59-49 at the 7:00 mark. The Hawks continued to hold a double-digit advantage before the Trojans mounted a 6-1 run to trim the deficit to 68-60. With 1:39 left in regulation, Chowan secured the win at the line by converting seven of eight shots, 75-64.

The Trojans finished the game shooting 32.3 percent (20 of 62) from the floor while converting 17 of 25 (68 percent) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Hawks shot at a 41.9 percent clip (26 of 62) from the field and made 20 of 28 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe. Chowan finished with a 52-31 rebounding advantage and registered 41 points in the paint, while Mount Olive totaled 16 points off 22 forced turnovers.

— From University of Mount Olive Athletics