FROM STAFF REPORTS

GREENWOOD, S.C. – The University of Montevallo women’s basketball team picked up its sixth win in seven games following a 63-49 win on the road at Lander University in a Peach Belt Conference contest Jan. 5.

Senior Trena Moore-Smith led the Falcons (8-5 overall, 3-1 in Peach Belt Conference) with a career-high 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor, including a 5-of-7 performance from beyond the arc. Moore-Smith also grabbed four rebounds and dished out a team-high five assists in the win.

Sophomore Taylor Beverly, who grabbed seven rebounds, added 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field. Junior Shay Bonner chipped in 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor and a 5-of-8 performance at the charity stripe.

Senior Zena Nasiloski contributed seven points, on 5-of-6 shooting from the free-throw line, and a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman Jasmine Thomas finished with three points, while senior Alex Strickland and freshman Jerrisa Green chipped in two points.

The Falcons jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the game’s opening minutes following a 3-pointer by Moore-Smith, a layup by Bonner and a pair of free throws by Beverly.

Lander cut the deficit to two points, 18-16, midway through the first half before Montevallo pushed its lead to double-digits down the stretch. Bonner capped the opening half with a personal 3-0 run in the final minute of the half to send the Falcons into the locker room with a 32-21 lead at halftime.

Montevallo continued to add to its lead in the second half. The Falcons took their largest lead in the game, 48-26, when Moore-Smith knocked down a 3-pointer to give Montevallo the 22-point lead with 13:01 remaining in the game.

The Bearcats trimmed the Montevallo lead to 53-43 with just more than seven minutes left before Moore-Smith capped a quick 7-0 run by the Falcons with another 3-pointer to dim any hopes of Lander tying the game in the final minutes.

Montevallo returns to action Thursday, Jan. 10 with a Peach Belt Conference contest on the road at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, Ga. Tip off is set for 4:30 p.m. CST.