BANNER ELK, N.C. — The University of Mount Olive women’s basketball team delivered an efficient offensive performance Saturday afternoon but came up short in an 84–67 road loss to Lees-McRae inside Williams Gymnasium.
The Trojans started the game with energy, briefly taking an early lead behind dominant interior play from Jerin Truesdale. Truesdale led all scorers with 21 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting effort, while also recording seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Lees-McRae answered with strong perimeter shooting in the opening quarter, building a 22–13 lead. Mount Olive responded in the second period, outscoring the Bobcats 21–18 to trim the deficit to 40–34 at halftime. Jayla Hicks sparked the rally with timely baskets, while Aniyah Vanhook and Emily Wiebelhaus provided valuable contributions off the bench.
Mount Olive continued to battle after the break, shooting an efficient 62.5 percent from the field in the third quarter. Truesdale and Savannah McAfee helped keep the Trojans within striking distance, cutting the deficit to seven late in the period, but Lees-McRae maintained a 56–49 advantage heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, Mount Olive worked to close the gap, but the Bobcats pulled away with a late surge fueled by hot shooting from beyond the arc.
Hicks finished with 10 points and five assists, while McAfee added 11 points and four rebounds. The Trojans shot 51.1 percent from the floor and scored 36 points in the paint, showcasing a strong inside presence. Mount Olive’s bench also contributed 19 points as the team continued to show growth against a tough conference opponent.
The Trojans return home for upcoming Conference Carolinas matchups, hosting Belmont Abbey on Monday at 3 p.m. and UNC Pembroke on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
