BANNER ELK, N.C. – The King University women's basketball team avenged a defeat earlier this season with an emphatic win at rival Lees-McRae College on Thursday night. The Tornado turned in a stellar defensive performance in their 74-43 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 74, Lees-McRae 43
LOCATION: Williams Gymnasium; Banner Elk, N.C.
RECORDS: King 8-6, 7-6 Conference Carolinas; Lees-McRae 7-7, 7-7 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Lees-McRae scored the first four points of the game, but King responded with a 14-2 run to take a 14-6 lead.
- Jhayda McKinney and Ryleigh Fritz connected from long range on the spurt before Jada Owens and Trinity Lee scored consecutive baskets in the final minute.
- Lee beat the buzzer, giving King an 18-8 lead going to the second period.
Second Period
- Kiki Samsel started the second period with back-to-back triples, pushing the King run to 26-4 in a 10 minute span.
- Julie Ford gave King their largest lead of the half at 38-13 with a layup with three minutes remaining until halftime.
- Lee again closed the scoring, this time with a pair of free throws, giving King a 40-16 lead at the half.
Third Period
- Lees-McRae chipped away at the Tornado lead in the third quarter, scoring four straight points in the early going and later going on a 5-0 run to pull within 48-29.
- However, King responded with a 9-1 run that was started by an Ali Golden three-point basket.
- The Bobcats scored the final five points of the period, but King held a 57-35 advantage.
Fourth Period
- The Tornado used a 7-0 run, started by back-to-back buckets from Owens and Dseiree Bates to open up a 66-37 lead.
- The King lead grew to 74-41 as the Tornado took the game 74-43.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Tornado defense held Lees-McRae to a 27.4 field goal percentage, including a 21.1 three-point field goal percentage.
- Lee led the Tornado with 15 points, nine rebounds and two assists.
- Ford followed with 12 points and six rebounds.
- Samsel, McKinney and Owens chipped in with eight points each.
- Golden handed out six assists.
FOR THE FOES
- Jessica Henderson and Destiny Johnson led Lees-McRae with seven points each.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Thursday night marked the fourth time this season the Tornado have held their opponent to less than 45 points and less than 30.0 percent shooting from the floor.
UP NEXT
- King returns home on Saturday as they take on North Greenville University at 2:00 p.m. in their final home game of the regular season.
- Lees-McRae hosts Belmont Abbey College on Saturday afternoon.
