Trojans finish 1-1 in Bahamas Sunshine Shootout

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on December 21, 2007 1:48 PM

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS -- Mount Olive erased a nine-point deficit in the final nine minutes, but Southern Indiana hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left to hand the Trojans a 64-59 loss on the final day of the Bahamas Sunshine Shootout.

Lakeisha Monroe tied the game with 26 seconds left, but the Trojans settled for a 1-1 worksheet during their trip. Brittany Miller led Mount Olive with 14 points, while Monroe and Tomeka Prichard finished with 12 points apiece. Robich added nine points, all on 3-pointers.

Miller and Prichard reached double figures by halftime as the Trojans grabbed a 32-26 lead.

The second half got off to an almost identical start as Tuesday's game when Mount Olive gave up the first eight points to Tiffin (Ohio) University. Southern Indiana scored the first seven points after intermission and Carly Clendenen's three-pointer gave the Screaming Eagles a 33-32 lead with 18:14 left to play.

Robich put Mount Olive back on top with a 3-pointer, but that would be the Trojans' only field goal during the first 11 minutes of the second half. Clendenen hit her third 3-pointer to cap a 21-4 run and extend Southern Indiana's lead to 44-36 with 9:20 remaining.

Mount Olive cut the lead to six on four occasions, but Southern Indiana took its biggest lead of the game at 55-46 with 3:10 remaining.

That set the stage for the Trojans' frantic rally.

Monroe hit a basket just under the three-minute mark and Robich followed with a 3-pointer to cut USI's lead to four. The margin was five when Miller hit a 3-pointer with 49 seconds left to pull the Trojans within 57-55. Mount Olive made a steal in the backcourt and Prichard's layup tied the game 57-57 with 40 seconds remaining.

Southern Indiana regained the lead as Jasmine Baines hit both ends of a 1-and-1 with 35.9 seconds remaining. Monroe answered with a basket nine seconds later to knot the game for the fifth time.

The Trojans thought they forced a turnover with less than 20 seconds left when a Southern Indiana dribbler slipped on the floor, but the Screaming Eagles were granted a timeout. Clendenen then hit her fifth 3-pointer of the game with 10 seconds left to put USI ahead to stay.

A Mount Olive three-point attempt with five seconds left was off the mark and Amie Newhart hit a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining to seal the win.

The Trojans hurt themselves from the free throw line, converting only 5-of-19 attempts. After shooting under 50 percent from the line in the first half, Southern Indiana went 7-for-9 in the second half.

All three teams competing in the Shootout finished with 1-1 records.

Mount Olive returns to action Jan. 2 at home against Elizabeth City State. Tip-off is 2 p.m. at Kornegay Arena and admission is free.