BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's basketball team got off to a slow start but played two solid middle quarters to defeat rival Lees-McRae College on Monday evening.
Alexa Gramann posted a double-double as the Tornado cruised to the 70-47 Conference Carolinas victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 70, Lees-McRae 47
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 8-5, 7-3 Conference Carolinas; Lees-McRae 2-10, 2-8 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Lees-McRae scored the first four points of the contest and held the Tornado without a field goal for the first five minutes.
- Ryleigh Fritz came up with that bucket with the Tornado.
- However, the Bobcats responded, extending their lead to 12-4 before the Tornado worked their way back over the final four minutes.
- Jaden Potts started an 11-2 run with a triple and Gramann followed with a pair of free throws.
- Fritz beat the buzzer with a trifecta, giving King a 15-14 lead going to the second period.
Second Period
- The Tornado built off that triple, outscoring the Bobcats 23-6 in the second 10 minutes.
- Brianna Dunbar started the period with a triple before four free throws from Fritz gave King a 22-14 lead.
- The King defense held the Bobcats without a field goal over the final 4:49 on the period.
- During that time, King outscored Lees-McRae 11-1, capped by a Potts triple in the final minute to give the Tornado a 38-20 lead at the break.
Third Period
- Dunbar opened the second half with a pair of triples and Fritz added a layup to give King a 46-23 lead three minutes into the third period.
- The King advantage grew to 48-25 as Desiree Bates capped the 10-0 run with a layup.
- King stretched the lead to 28 and led 56-30 going to the fourth quarter.
Fourth Period
- Lees-McRae tied to work their way back, but Fritz answered with a triple to extend the Tornado lead.
- King then cruised to the 70-47 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Fritz led four King scorers in double figures with 19 points. She added four rebounds and three assists.
- Trinity Lee added 15 points and eight rebounds while Dunbar chipped in with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.
- Gramann added 11 points and 11 rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- MaKayla Smith led Lees-McRae with 15 points and four rebounds.
- Destiny Johnson added 10 points and seven rebounds.
- Jala Holloman added nine points and five assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 19 points for Fritz set a season high.
- Gramann posted her first career double-double with a career-high 11 rebounds. She was within one of her career-high with 11 points.
UP NEXT
- King is in action again on Wednesday when they host Erskine College. Tipoff from the Student Center Complex is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
- Lees-McRae hosts Converse University on Thursday evening.
