Mount Olive, N.C. – Anderson University (7-6) women's basketball team falls to nonconference opponent Mount Olive (8-0), 64-56, on Monday afternoon at Kornegay Arena.
"We were unable to finish how we wanted to finish, but we did show signs of what we've been working on," said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "We'll take this break to hopefully get completely healthy and have for the first time our full team when we get back."
Mount Olive placed three players in double-digit scoring with Ivanda Hudjakova scoring a team-high 20 points. Hudjakova also pulled down 10 rebounds to record a double-double. Azariah Fields and Ayonna Cotton scored 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Anderson's Shameka McNeill scored a game-high 28 points, with four rebounds and three steals. McNeill shot 9-of-18 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Freshman Diamond McDowell chipped in 10 points, while grabbing 7 rebounds. Senior Britney Bailey ripped down 11 rebounds, with Graduate Samantha Michel pulling down eight boards and blocking three shots.
Anderson led by eight points after the opening quarter, but relinquished the lead in the second quarter to go into halftime tied at 33 apiece. After a back and forth third quarter, Mount Olive won the period, 14-12.
The Black and Gold trailed by as many as 10 points in the final quarter, before senior Taylor Hair drained two foul shots to pull AU to within, 60-56, with 2:05 remaining. Unfortunately, Hair's two-points were the final of the game for AU.
Mount Olive was able to hit 4-of-4 from the free throw line to extend its lead and win its eighth straight game and remain undefeated.
Anderson will take a small break and will host South Atlantic Conference opponent Catawba to begin play in the New Year on January 5th. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 pm
