The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team outscored Mount Olive 33-32 in the second half after trailing 31-23 at halftime as the Crusaders pulled to within four with 1:14 to play, but the Lady Trojans converted three free throws in the final 26 seconds to seal a 63-56 win this evening at Kornegay Arena. Mount Olive improves to 12-3 overall and 8-3 in Conference Carolinas, while the Abbey drops to 7-8 overall and 6-5 in Conference Carolinas.

Mount Olive built its first half lead on the strength of 44 percent shooting from the floor as Joneiqua Gary scored nine of her game-high 20 points in the period. Belmont Abbey shot just 37 percent as Brianna Johnson tallied seven points in the first half on three of five shooting. Morgan Midkiff finished with 17 points for the game, scoring 14 in the second half as she fueled the Abbey's comeback.

The Lady Trojans moved their lead to 11 points at 38-27 on a Tamara Nesmith layup at the 17:36 mark, but the Abbey fought back with a 18-5 run over the next 7:03 to put the Crusaders on top 45-43. Kelsey Long scored five points in the run, including three free throws from Long, while Midkiff converted a free throw and two layups, the last of which put the Abbey ahead. McKenzie Owen contributed four points, including a pair of free throws that tied the game, but Nesmith converted two free throws 38 seconds later to put Mount Olive ahead for good.

Mount Olive's lead never grew to any higher than seven points, but the Abbey could not chop the lead down to any fewer than two points, which came on a Candace Fox three-pointer with 4:08 to go.

Midkiff swished two free throws with 1:14 to go to shrink the gap to four. After Mount Olive's next possession came up empty, Caitlyn Ranson missed a three-pointer with 34 ticks left, and the Abbey was forced to foul. The Lady Trojans made three of their four free throws in the last 26 seconds to pull away.

Belmont Abbey shot 35 percent (19-53) for the game as Midkiff led the way with 17 points. She also had three steals. Owen added a season-high 12 points and blocked two shots. Johnson and Long both tallied seven. Melisa Foures grabbed six rebounds and Fox recorded five steals. Foures and Fox both played all 40 minutes and Midkiff totaled 35.

Mount Olive shot 41 percent (21-51) as Gary's 20 points led all scorers and three Lady Trojans in double figures. Nesmith totaled 16 and ten rebounds for a double double, while Jasmine McDonald also posted a double double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Mount Olive outrebounded the Crusaders 42-25.