BRISTOL, Tenn. — The King University women's basketball team delivered one of its most complete performances of the season Wednesday evening, overwhelming Southern Wesleyan 86–50 inside the Student Center Complex. With the win, King moves to 13-12 overall and 10–8 in Conference Carolinas play, while the Warriors fall to 6–19 (4–13 CC). A crowd of 119 watched the Tornado control the game from start to finish — and witness a moment of program history.
Game Flow
King wasted no time seizing momentum, shooting 64.3 percent in the opening quarter to build a 26–17 advantage. The Tornado defense tightened even further in the second period, holding Southern Wesleyan to just seven points while extending the lead to 44–24 at halftime.
The third quarter removed any doubt. King erupted for 25 points, fueled by crisp ball movement, transition opportunities, and a barrage of threes. By the time the fourth quarter began, the Tornado had full command, cruising through the final 10 minutes to secure a decisive 86–50 victory.
King Highlights
The night belonged to
Aliyah Hawkins, who etched her name into school history. The freshman guard recorded
the first triple-double of King's NCAA era, finishing with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and a staggering 13 assists while playing 39 minutes.
She had plenty of help:
- Jaelyn West exploded for a game-high 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting, including three triples, while adding six rebounds.
- Alayna Smith powered her way to 12 points and 2 rebounds, converting 6-of-8 from the line.
- Mary Elizabeth Fox contributed 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, knocking down two threes.
- Samantha Lee provided a major spark off the bench with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep.
- Riley Nelson added 6 points and 8 rebounds in just 16 minutes, dominating the glass.
King shot an impressive 46.7% from the field, 37.9% from three (11-of-29), and a blistering 90.5% at the free-throw line (19-of-21). The Tornado also won the rebounding battle 47–34 and generated 22 bench points.
Southern Wesleyan Effort
The Warriors were led by:
- Makayla Raines: 12 points, 7 rebounds
- Kyra Price: 8 points, 3 rebounds
- Jordan Race: 7 points, 2 assists
Southern Wesleyan struggled to find rhythm offensively, shooting 27% from the field and 29% from three. The Warriors were held to single-digit scoring in the second quarter and never recovered from King's early surge.
Key Stats
| Category |
Southern Wesleyan |
King |
| Field Goal % |
27.0% |
46.7% |
| Three-Point % |
29.0% |
37.9% |
| Rebounds |
34 |
47 |
| Bench Points |
22 |
22 |
| Fast-Break Points |
3 |
11 |
| Points off Turnovers |
8 |
13 |
| Points in the Paint |
14 |
32 |
Conclusion
King delivered a dominant wire-to-wire performance, showcasing efficient offense, relentless rebounding, and stifling defense. Hawkins' historic triple-double highlighted a night filled with standout efforts, while West's scoring outburst powered the Tornado to their largest conference win of the season.
Next Game
King hits the road on
Saturday, February 21, traveling to
Mount Olive for a 4:00 p.m. matchup in Mount Olive, N.C.
