PEMBROKE, N.C. –
Le'Aije Ellington scored 13 points Saturday afternoon, but the King University women's basketball team came up short, falling to UNC Pembroke 64-43.
THE BASICS
FINAL: UNC Pembroke 64, King 43
LOCATION: Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court; Pembroke, N.C.
RECORDS: King 4-16, 4-8 Conference Carolinas; UNC Pembroke 15-7, 12-2 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- It was a slow start for both teams, as they combined to open the game 0-for-6, with UNCP getting the first bucket of the game at the 6:05 mark.
- The Tornado got on the board with 4:32 left when Jhayda McKinney hit a three, with Jaden Potts picking up the assist to make it 4-3 Braves.
- Tori Smiley got her first point of the game with 2:32 left, drawing a transition foul and hitting one of the ensuing free throws.
- UNCP would then score four points over a span of 25 seconds, taking a 11-4 lead into the second quarter.
Second Period
- After the Braves started the quarter with a layup, Alexa Gramann drew a foul on the offensive end and hit both free throws, bringing King to within 13-6.
- A quick UNCP three gave them a 16-6 lead before Smiley knocked down a pair of free throws, bringing the score to 16-8.
- The Braves would score the next eight points, extending their lead to 24-8 with just under five minutes to play.
- After Gramann hit a free throw, Ellington hit a three to bring King to within 26-12 with 3:57 left.
- The Tornado would trade buckets with the Braves, with Ellington nailing another three, this one with 51 seconds left to close the half, with King trailing 33-17.
Third Period
- Both teams scored in the opening minutes, with UNCP hitting a three before Ashley Allen hit one at the other end, making it 36-20.
- Gramann would knock down a pair of free throws with 7:15 left, starting what would turn out to be a stretch of six consecutive King points, bringing them to within 39-26 with 4:44 to play.
- The Braves would then go on a scoring run of their own, scoring nine of the next 13 points, taking a 48-30 lead.
- King was able to trim the lead slightly, with Jaelyn West hitting a pair of free throws with 1:39 left, cutting the lead to 48-32. West would again step to the line with 12 seconds left, knocking down one of the two free throws to make the score 48-33.
Fourth Period
- UNCP got the scoring started with a pair of free throws just 50 seconds into the quarter, but the Tornado responded on the other end when Ellington hit a three, keeping the Tornado within striking distance, 50-36.
- The quarter temporarily turned into a free throw contest for King, as after a personal foul and technical foul were assessed against the Braves, Ellington and McKinney combined to go 3-of-4 from the line, with Ellington adding a jumper to bring King to within 54-43.
- UNC Pembroke then scored the final 10 points of the game, securing a 64-43 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ellington led the Tornado, scoring 13 points on the game. This is the eighth time this season she has scored in double figures.
- Ashley Allen scored five points and pulled a team-best 7 rebounds.
- Jaden Potts dished out three assists on the afternoon.
FOR THE FOES
- Kalaya Hall and Zaria Clark both scored in double figures, with Hall scoring 18 to lead all scorers and Clark contributing 12.
- Hall, Hannah Russell and Malea Garrison all had seven rebounds with Aniah McManus throwing in four assists.
UP NEXT
- King will be at home Wednesday night, hosting Emmanuel at 5 p.m.
- The Braves host Southern Wesleyan Wednesday night.
