Box Score by Cory Guinn
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The Barton College women's basketball team was unable to overcome a double-digit halftime deficit as University of Mount Olive handed BC a 70-66 loss in Kornegay Arena on Tuesday night.
Barton fell to 14-14 overall and now sits at 12-9 in Conference Carolinas play with one regular season game left on the schedule. The Trojans improved to 17-10 overall and 15-6 in the league to secure its second place position in the standings.
Redshirt-sophomore Alex Kimble and sophomore Tatyana Jackson opened the game with back-to-back three pointers as Barton took an early 6-0 lead before the Trojans scored their first basket. Barton led 16-15 after the first quarter of play as Mount Olive's Tommarah Harris made a three-pointer with five seconds left to get within one.
Mount Olive took its first lead of the contest at 21-20 with 7:06 to play in the second quarter, building a lead as large as 31-20 following a jumper from Arieal Johnson with just over three minutes to play. UMO carried a 10-point lead into the halftime break following a three-pointer from Niya Styles that ended the half.
The Lady Bulldogs were able to take a 40-38 lead midway through the third quarter after sophomore Karimah Dean made a three-point basket and Jackson followed with a layup. The two sides played to two ties over the final five minutes of the period as Mount Olive held a 49-46 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Trojans were able to outscore Barton 21-20 over the final 10 minutes to secure the win and a split in the season series. Barton earned a 69-64 victory over Mount Olive in Wilson in early February.
Mount Olive shot 50.9 percent from the floor and 50 percent from long range in the win as Barton forced 20 turnovers to keep the game close throughout.
Kimble led the Lady Bulldogs with 19 points and four steals, while freshman Kianna Wynn recorded 14 points and nine rebounds.
Jackson, the reigning Conference Carolinas Player of the Week, finished with 14 points of her own as Dean totaled seven points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes off of the bench.
Barton concludes its regular season schedule on Friday, February 26 when its hosts Emmanuel College at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs, who have already secured a spot in the league tournament, will have to wait for Saturday's games to conclude before knowing their first round opponent.
