Trojan men, women pick up league victories

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on February 1, 2008 1:53 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive shot 61 percent from the floor and Brandon Streeter provided a game-high 15 points in a 70-55, Conference Carolinas victory over St. Andrews at Kornegay Arena.

The Trojans, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II East Region poll, have shot 50 percent or better in nine consecutive games. They converted 27 of 44 shots, including 9 of 14 from 3-point range.

Streeter, who ranks 12th in the nation in field-goal percentage (66.0), finished 6 of 8 from the floor. Josh Brown, Kendrick Easley and Craig Hayes provided nine points apiece. Mike Holloman contributed eight points and five assists.

Aking Elting, who started at point guard in place of injured Justin Melton, shared game-high honors with five assists. Mount Olive (15-4 overall) improved to 11-2 in conference play and claimed its fourth straight victory over the Knights.

St. Andrews (5-14, 4-8) got as close as four points in the opening half, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Brown and Aaron Dobson capped a 16-4 run. The Trojans led 29-17 with 5:01 remaining. Holloman assisted on both 3s, the second assist coming on a rainbow lob from the left corner to Dobson in the right corner.

Mount Olive led 38-23 at halftime.

The Knights trimmed Mount Olive's lead to 42-33 on Ron Deas' layup. Dobson and Brown each connected from long range to as the Trojans rebuilt their advantage to 52-39.

St. Andrews threatened again at 54-45 before Streeter, who sat out 10-plus minutes, scored the next two baskets. Working with another double-digit lead, Brown picked the Knights for a steal and lobbed to Holloman, who finished with a slam dunk.

Streeter stole St. Andrews' next possession and Holloman completed the fast-break play with a finger-roll basket off Easley's lob. Mount Olive held a commanding 65-49 advantage at that point.

Moore, Monroe shine

MOUNT OLIVE -- Sophomore Helen Moore pumped in a game-high 22 points and Lakeisha Monroe flirted with a triple-double in Mount Olive's 81-62 rout of St. Andrews.

Monroe finished with 16 points, a career-high 12 assists and pulled down eight rebounds for the Trojans, winners of four consecutive games. The senior guard nearly became the first women's player in more than a decade to record the historic feat. Stephanie McCovery tallied 46 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Belmont Abbey on Feb. 19, 1996.

Senior backcourt mate Keona Corley had come the closest since with 11 points, 11 steals and nine assists Dec. 2, 2006, against Limestone (S.C.) University.

Tomeka Prichard finished with 14 points, while Robich added nine points, all from 3-point rage. Corley, who ranks in the top 20 in the nation in assists per game, dished out eight assists. Oaks pulled down a season-high seven rebounds.

Mount Olive shot 51.5 percent from the field, boosted by Moore (10-for-17) and Monroe (7-for-12). Moore scored eight of the the Trojans' first 12 points during the first five minutes.

Shequanta McGee and Robich then combined for 12 consecutive Mount Olive points -- all from beyond the arc -- during a 14-2 run early in the first half to put the Trojans ahead to stay.

St. Andrews, which had won five straight games in the series, pulled within 11 points in the second half. Prichard's 3-pointer ignited a 13-2 run and Mount Olive took its biggest lead at 74-52 with 3:13 remaining. The margin never fell below 16 the rest of the way.

Mount Olive (12-8 overall, 10-3 CC) entertains No. 21-ranked Anderson (S.C.) University on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.