MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Women's Basketball team battled back after a slow start but faded down the stretch as the Hawks dropped a 63-57 decision to Mount Olive in Conference Carolinas action on Tuesday evening.

THE BASICS

FINAL |Chowan 57, Mount Olive 63

RECORDS | Chowan 1-4 (1-1), Mount Olive 4-1 (2-0)

LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Helms Center)

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Chowan struggled to find points in the first quarter scoring only five points but held Mount Olive to seven in the second quarter to lead 28-24.

Mariah Coker led the Hawks with 19 points going 8-9 from the floor.  Demetria Bland recorded 14 points.

The Hawks tallied 27 turnovers, but had eight blocks.  Icez Barnett recorded three blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter:

Mount Olive started the contest on a 10-0 run as the Hawks went 0-7 from the floor with five turnovers.  Jahkeria Bagby produced the first points for the Hawks on a jumper.

The Trojans finished off the quarter on a 7-3 run to lead 17-5.  Mariah Coker connected from the floor and Olivia Gaither went 1-2 from the stripe.

Second Quarter:

Demetria Bland started off the quarter with a three pointer.  Keibra Hopkins connected from distance before Bland hit another trey and Icez Barnett hit a jumper in the paint to cut the deficit to six, 22-16, midway through the quarter.

The 20-4 run in the quarter for the Hawks did not stop there as Aniah Patterson hit a pair of free throws and back-to-back layups by Jahkeria Bagby and Mariah Coker cut it to a one possession contest, 24-22.  After a steal by Coker, Coker would knock down the three pointer to give the Hawks the lead.

Mariah Coker drained another three pointer to send the Hawks into the locker room with a 28-24 advantage.

Third Quarter:

Mount Olive rallied back with four quick points out of the break to even the contest at 28-all.  Mariah Coker kept the Hawks in the lead with a jumper.  Keibra Hopkins added three points to the score before an 8-0 run by the Trojans handed UMO the 38-33 lead.

Chowan countered with a 7-1 run to end the quarter to lead 40-39.  Monique Jones started the run with a pair from the stripe.  Mariah Coker knocked down a three pointer and Demetria Bland hit a jumper to finish off the quarter.

Fourth Quarter:

The game of runs continued with a 9-2 run by the Trojans.  Jahkeria Bagby ended the run with an old-fashioned three point play.

After a layup by Olivia Gaither, Mount Olive started pulling away as the Trojans produced another run, 8-0, to lead 61-49.  Demetria Bland knocked down two three pointers in the final 90 seconds but could not bring the Hawks any closer as UMO took the contest 63-57.

UP NEXT

Chowan hits the road for a non-conference contest against UNC Pembroke on Saturday, November 30.  Tip-off is slated for 2pm.