ANDERSON, S.C. -- Anderson hit a pair of three-pointers 10
seconds apart to cut a seven-point deficit down to one in the final
minute, but Mount Olive held on for a 60-58 victory in Conference
Carolinas women's basketball Saturday at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson senior guard Shanice Wilson scored 11 of her game-high 18
points in the first half for Anderson, while Shequanta McGee and
Helen Moore had 17 points apiece for Mount Olive. The visiting team
has now won each of the last five games in the series. Mount Olive
has won three in a row at Anderson. Anderson (10-9 overall, 9-5
Conference Carolinas) trailed 58-51 when Alexa Neal hit a
three-pointer with 51 seconds left to cut the margin to four. Mount
Olive (11-9, 10-5) committed a turnover on its ensuing possession
and Amanda Parris nailed a three with 41 seconds remaining to pull
the Trojans within 58-57. Anderson had a chance to take its first
lead of the second half after Mount Olive missed a pair of free
throws. But the Trojans missed a field goal attempt and Mount Olive
extended the lead to 60-57 with seven seconds left after Laporsha
Davis sank a pair of free throws. A Mount Olive foul on a
three-point attempt with 0.3 seconds remaining gave Anderson an
opportunity to tie the game. But after hitting the first attempt
and missing the second, Mount Olive got the rebound on an
intentional miss as time expired. In the first half, Wilson scored
Anderson's first seven points and Neal's three-pointer tied the
game 10-10 with 13:01 remaining. Mount Olive broke the tie a minute
later with a free throw and led for the remainder of the game. The
margin grew to double digits as three-pointers by Meaghan
Vanderhorst and McGee highlighted a 12-4 run and gave Mount Olive a
30-19 lead with 1:38 left before halftime. But Parris and Wilson
each knocked down a pair of free throws in the final 42 seconds as
Anderson pulled within 30-25 at the break. Egle Bauzite's basket on
Anderson's initial possession of the second half completed an 8-0
run and brought the Trojans within three. But Brittany Miller
answered with a three for Mount Olive and the lead eventually grew
back to eight. Mount Olive appeared to be in control down the
stretch as Vanderhorst finished a steal with a layup to make it a
56-48 game with 2:21 left to play. Lauren Beeson answered with a
three-pointer for Anderson with 1:13 remaining, but Moore drew an
immediate foul and hit both free throws to give Mount Olive a
three-possession lead with 1:11 left and Anderson's late rally came
up short. Korie Sellers narrowly missed a double-double for
Anderson with 11 points and nine rebounds. The Trojans were
12-for-18 from the free throw line, compared to 14-for-21 for Mount
Olive. The Trojans play host to Limestone College in the middle
game of the homestand on Monday night at the Abney Center. Game
time is slated for 5:30 p.m. in the first contest of a
doubleheader. Box
Score