The Union Pines girls’ junior varsity basketball team picked up two victories in its last two outings on the hardwood before entering exam week.

Last Tuesday Union Pines’ cross-county rival North Moore Lady Mustangs came to Cameron to take on the Lady Vikings at Bob Ward Gymnasium.

Having lost to the Vikings earlier in the season, the North Moore girls were determined to make a better showing.

“The Lady Mustangs played with a lot of emotion and determination from the start,” said Union Pines head coach David Pope. “North Moore held us to just two first-period baskets to trail by only one point.”

Leading by a 4-3 tally after one quarter, Union Pines came alive with balanced scoring from six players in the second period. Overall in the quarter the Vikings tallied 14 points to carry an 18-10 lead at the half. The North Moore girls continued to fight hard on defense, but could not muster the points needed to cut into the Viking lead.

Led by sophomore center Nia Mosley, with 11 points and 14 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season, the Vikings outscored the Mustangs 21-8 in the second half for a 39-18 victory.

The Vikings’ season record currently stands at 9-3 overall and 3-0 in the 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference.

Because of exam week, Union Pines will not play again until Tuesday, Jan. 22, when it travels to Fayetteville for a conference clash with CFVC foe Westover.

On Jan. 4, the Vikings defeated league rival Southern Lee by a 51-14 margin. Both teams got off to a slow start in the tilt, not being able to find the basket very often.

Mosley got two baskets near the end of the first period as Union Pines took an 8-2 lead after one quarter.

The Vikes got their offense going in the second quarter. Mosley had six points, giving her 10 in the first half and helping lead her Viking team to a 21-4 halftime advantage.

The Union Pines girls continued their good offensive output in the third period as five different players scored a total of 14 points to push the Viking lead to 35-12.

The final period saw Taylor Sobczak lead the Viking reserves with a three-pointer and two free throws. Fellow Vike reserves Tyeisha Snipes, Alexis Chalmers, Elizabeth Bowe and Terrlicia Watson all contributed by scoring for Union Pines as they finished off the convincing CFVC win.

Mosley led Union Pines in scoring and on the boards by turning in a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.