Trojan women handle Bobcats

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on February 10, 2008 2:09 AM

• Print
• Email

MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College turned up the defensive heat in the opening minutes of the second half on Saturday afternoon and ran away from Lees-McRae, 79-62.

Shooting guard Lakeisha Monroe provided 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in the Trojan women's victory at Kornegay Arena. Mount Olive improved to 13-9 overall and 11-4 in Conference Carolinas play.

Alisa Jones added 13 points and blocked three shots.

Taking the court with only eight players in uniform, Lees-McRae (6-16, 5-11) looked out-gunned on paper. However, the players who did suit up staked the Bobcats to an early 6-1 lead.

"We have had a couple key injuries, but we have been playing with this group for approximately 10 games now," Bobcat coach Sebastian Wild said. "You can't be satisfied looking at the record, but it's always tough to play shorthanded on the road."

Mount Olive quickly erased the deficit and took its first lead, 8-6, on Helen Moore's basket with 16:20 remaining. The Trojans dominated from there behind the play of Monroe and Moore, who scored 13 and 10 first-half points, respectively.

Relying on its full-court pressure, Mount Olive extended its advantage to 21 points early in the second half. Lees-McRae rallied with back-to-back 3-pointers from Courtney Furr and Jessica Lunsford, but could get no closer than a twelve point deficit.

Shequanta McGee provided e a momentum-changing, 3-pointer at the 9:56 mark of the second half. The Trojans, who led by 17 at that point, cruised to a regular-season sweep over the Bobcats.