BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's basketball team closed their home schedule with a win behind one of their best three-point shooting performances of the season. King topped Southern Wesleyan University 62-51 behind 12 triples on Wednesday night in the Student Center Complex.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 62, Southern Wesleyan 51
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 8-20, 8-12 Conference Carolinas; Southern Wesleyan 9-19, 9-12 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Le'Aije Ellington scored the first points of the game, but Southern Wesleyan responded with 11 straight points.
- Ellington then knocked down a triple that got the Tornado offense going.
- Jada Campbell connected from long range on the next Tornado possession to pull King within 13-8.
- Jhayda McKinney made a pair of triples around a Jaelyn West three-point basket to pull King even at 17.
- Southern Wesleyan made a free throw to take an 18-17 lead after the first period.
Second Period
- After the Warriors took a 20-17 King scored eight straight point to take a 25-20 advantage.
- McKinney connected from long range before an Ellington layup and Potts triple capped the spurt.
- Southern Wesleyan worked their way back and pulled within two before the teams traded baskets in the waning seconds.
- Potts got a steal and made a jump shot before a Brittany Mack layup made the halftime score 29-27 in favor of the Tornado.
Third Period
- The teams traded baskets early before a Potts trifecta and free throws from Allen extended the lead to 36-29.
- A MyKeria Johnson three-point basket extended the King lead to 43-33 midway through the period.
- The Warriors cut into the deficit down the stretch, but King held a 45-39 lead going to the fourth quarter.
Fourth Period
- Southern Wesleyan tried to come back early in the fourth period, but a Campbell three-point basket extended the lead back to nine at 53-44 with six minutes remaining.
- King grabbed their largest lead of the game at 55-44 before the Warriors made one last run to pull within 55-48.
- However, Allen and Ellington made back-to-back layups to extend the lead back to 11 points.
- King held the lead there and a West triple gave King the 62-51 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ellington led King with 14 points while West followed with 10 points.
- Allen chipped in with eight points and 11 rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Mack led Southern Wesleyan with 12 points and five rebounds while Lexi Greffen added 10 points and five rebounds.
- Shelby Glance chipped in with eight points and 10 rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- King made 12 three-point baskets, matching their season-high. The Tornado last made 12 triples on November 22 against Erskine College.
- It is also the third time they have made at least 10 triples in a game.
UP NEXT
- King will be the ninth seed in the Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship and travel to Chowan University. The Tornado will take on eighth-seed Barton College on Sunday as the winner will face Chowan on Monday.
- Southern Wesleyan is the seventh seed and will travel to the University of Mount Olive to take on North Greenville University on Sunday.
