DUE WEST, S.C. – Finding ways to win conference games on the road isn't easy, and the King University women's basketball earned a tough Conference Carolinas win on Wednesday night. The contest wasn't pretty, but the Tornado topped Erskine College 61-59.

THE BASICS
FINAL: King 61, Erskine 59
LOCATION: Belk Arena; Due West, S.C.
RECORDS: King 12-10, 9-7 Conference Carolinas; Erskine 5-17, 5-12 Conference Carolinas

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Period

• Erskine jumped out to a 5-0 lead before an Ali Golden triple evened the score in the opening two minutes.
• Symantha Fugate later capped the 9-0 King run, putting the Tornado ahead 9-5 with a basket with four minutes remaining in the quarter.
• However, the Flying Fleet scored seven straight points before Golden made a layup in the final minute to pull King within 12-11 after the opening stanza.

Second Period

• Erskine scored the first six points of the second quarter and opened a 20-13 lead with two minutes remaining until halftime.
• Trinity Lee tried to get the Tornado offense going with a layup and three-point basket, to pull King within 22-18.
• Ryleigh Fritz made a layup, but Erskine made a layup to take a 25-20 lead at the break.
• King shot 23.5 percent from the floor in the first half while Erskine shot 37.9 percent.

Third Period

• King opened the second half with five straight points, and the Flying Fleet responded with five consecutive points to regain the lead.
• At that point, Fugate drilled a triple and layup, evening the score at 30 four minutes into the third quarter.
• A Kori West layup and Lee triple started a 7-0 King run and broke a tie at 34.
• West extended the Tornado lead to 41-34 with a layup, ending the spurt.
• Erskine scored the final bucket of the period, but King held a 43-38 lead going to the fourth quarter.

Fourth Period

• The Flying Fleet started the final period on a run, outscoring King 11-6 to even the score at 49 with 4:39 remaining.
• West broke the tie and Lee drilled back-to-back triples to extend the King lead back to 57-51 with 2:36 remaining.
• King again led by six, at 59-53 with 1:21 remaining, but Erskine closed the game with a flurry.
• Erskine scored the final four points of the contest, but it wasn't enough as King held on for the 61-59 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Lee led King with 19 points, going 5-for-6 from three-point range.
• West followed with 12 points and six rebounds.
• Fugate chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds.

FOR THE FOES

• Alexis Scott led Erskine with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
• Osha Makerson added 14 points, three rebounds and five assists.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The 11 points and six rebounds for Fugate each set career-highs.

UP NEXT

• King stays on the road to take on Emmanuel College on Saturday. Tipoff from Franklin Springs, Ga., is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
• Erskine travels to Limestone College on Saturday.