MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Freshman center
Mariana Moody scored six of her 12 points in a 11-0 run to open the third quarter as Francis Marion University swept to a 69-47 road win over the University of Mount Olive, Wednesday evening (Jan. 28) in Conference Carolinas women's basketball action.
Francis Marion wins its fifth consecutive game to move to 12-7 overall, 9-2 in conference play, and still unbeaten at 6-0 in East Division competition.
FMU was to have hosted Southern Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon, but that contest has been postponed due to the forecast of winter weather. A make-up date, possibly Monday evening, will be announced soon. The Patriots will play at UNC Pembroke on Feb. 4 at 5 p.m.
Sophomore guard
Kiara Croskey led Francis Marion with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists. Moody, who connected on 6-of-10 field goal attempts, also hauled down nine rebounds. Junior center
Jasmine Grant added 11 points and 10 rebounds, her second consecutive double-double.
Jerin Truesdale led Mount Olive (6-12, 3-9) with 14 points.
Although the game was tied twice in the early going, FMU never trailed. A lay-in by Croskey gave the Patriots the lead for good at 9-7. Her follow-up shot to end the period put FMU ahead 16-11.
Seven straight points by sophomore guard
Jordan Mintz expanded the Patriot lead to 28-19 with 2:07 left in the second quarter. The Patriots led 30-23 at halftime.
A three-pointer by sophomore guard
Angel Walker started the 11-0 run to open the second half, while Moody came up with a steal and a lay-up – her third bucket of the run – to cap the outburst that resulted in a 41-23 FMU advantage. UMO scored the game's next six points, but Francis Marion responded with a 6-2 spurt to end the quarter that saw FMU lead 47-31.
The Trojans did trim the margin to 12 points on two occasions in the final period, the latter time at 59-47 with 4:33 remaining, but the Patriots tallied the game's final 10 points to account for the final 22-point margin.
Francis Marion shot 38.3 percent from the field and was 18-of-20 at the free throw line, while UMO managed only 32.8 shooting from the floor and just 5-of-10 at the stripe.
