Box Score BANNER ELK, N.C. – In true rivalry fashion the King University women's basketball posts a come-from-behind victory at Lees-McRae College. After trailing throughout almost the entire contest the Tornado took the lead in the final 2:32 to go on to defeat the Bobcats 78-70. Whitney Mitchell fueled King in the win posting a career-high 29 points.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 78, Lees-McRae 70
LOCATION: Williams Gymnasium; Banner Elk, N.C.
RECORDS: King 17-10, 16-5 Conference Carolinas, Lees-McRae 8-20, 7-14 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
- At the first whistle Ashley Albertson would put the Tornado on the board with a layup seven seconds in to give King a 2-0 lead that would not easily regain.
- The Bobcats answered back with a made three-point jumper from MacKenzi Blakenship that would give Lees-McRae a 3-2 lead at 8:46, a lead that they would hold for most the whole game.
- After trading baskets the Bobcats would expand to their lead to two possesses on made jump shot, King turnover, and topped off by a Blakenship three-point basket going up 13-7 with 2:55 left in the quarter.
- A Whitney Mitchell and-one basket, converting the old fashion three point play with a made free-throw helped King chip away at the Bobcats lead still down 14-12 with 1:22 on the clock.
- Jalan Harper closed out the quarter for the Tornado with a made layup and a King foul placed Lees-McRae on the free throw line with 0:02 where they would convert both attempts holding a 18-15 lead.
- With a hot hand, Blakenship came out in the second quarter firing, a made shot from the ark would give the Bobcats a 21-15 advantage.
- Amy Van Deventer would sink a jump shot at 5:55 to bring King within four trailing 25-21.
- Lees-McRae would then take off with a 9-0 run going up 34-21 forcing a King time out at 3:43.
- With 0:15 left in the half Arnelle Collins drained King's only made three-point basket of the half as the Tornado would go into the break down 39-28.
- Kicking off the second half with a defensive precedent from both teams, there was not a made jump shot recorded until 7:47.
- The Tornado would post the only points in the first three minutes of play all from the charity stripe going 4-for-4 with a couple from Albertson and a couple from Collins, King still behind 39-32.
- Breaking the silence was Alexis Ammons for Lees-McRae with a couple layups and a three from Breana Hardnett.
- Stephanie Brantley would answer right back with a made three-point basket and made layup in back-to-back possession with King now trailing 46-37 with 4:31 left in the third.
- The quarter would end on a made layup from Ammons as the Tornado would go into the final stanza down 55-43.
- Readjusting and coming out with some fire at the start of the fourth quarter Jalan Harper gave the Tornado some momentum with back-to-back buckets from the ark now trailing 57-49.
- A couple made buckets from the free-throw line from Mitchell would cap a King 8-0 run cut off by a jump shot from Lees-McRae's Tayler Collins at 8:08 up 59-51.
- Another Harper three-point basket tied the contest 63-63 with 3:48 left followed by another and-one basket from Mitchell with 2:32 left which gave King a lead they had not held since the first minute of the game.
- Locking down on the defensive end, only allowing Lees-McRae one bucket for the rest of the game, the Tornado closed out the game on a 13-3 run with nine of their final 13 points coming from the free throw line.
- Mitchell secured the win for the Tornado going 7-for-7 from the charity stripe in the final 2:32 and King would ride away with a 78-70 victory.
- Mitchell led all scorers with 29 points, going 8-for-15 from the field and 12-for-12 from the free throw line.
- Harper added 16 points and six rebounds, going 6-for-11, shooting 50.0 percent from the ark.
- Albertson recorded a double-double 10 points and 13 rebounds. She also posted two blocks.
FOR THE FOES
- Blakenship led the Bobcats with 20 points.
- Collins recorded 16 points going 7-for-10 from the field.
- Brea Forbes recorded a double-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds
- Markia Stacey dished out a game-high 11 assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORES
- Mitchell's 29 points marks a career-high topping her previous best of 24 set earlier this season at Mount Olive.
- This marks Albertson's fifth double-double this season. She also posted a career-high with her 13 rebounds.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado top off the regular season on the road at #3 Limestone College at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
- Lees-McRae closes out their regular season Friday at North Greenville University.
