DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The King University women's basketball team traveled to take on the top teams in the southeast region over the past couple seasons, University of North Georgia who is ranked third in one poll and 12th in another. The Tornado defense was stout all night and the Tornado used a late run to have a chance to win the contest. However, the comeback fell short as North Georgia took the contest 77-75.
THE BASICS
FINAL: #12/3 North Georgia 77, King 75
LOCATION: Lynn Cottrell Arena at the UNG Convocation Center; Dahlonega, Ga.
RECORDS: King 1-5, North Georgia 6-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- North Georgia knocked down a pair of early triples to take an early lead, but the Tornado fought back.
- A Tori Smiley three-point basket started a 10-0 Tornado run that turned a 9-5 deficit into a 15-9 King lead.
- Rikkelle Miller scored three points on the run before layups from Jordan Weir and Jaden Potts gave King the lead with two minutes remaining in the quarter.
- The Nighthawks scored the final four points of the period, but King held a 15-13 lead going to the second quarter.
Second Period
- King held the advantage early in the second quarter, leading 22-19 before the Nighthawks went on a run.
- North Georgia scored eight straight points to take a 27-22 lead before Brianna Dunbar connected from long range.
- The Nighthawks made three triples down the stretch, and Dunbar added another for the Tornado before King scored the final points of the half.
- Smily made a layup in the waning seconds, but North Georgia led 35-32 at the break.
- The King defense was stifling in the open 20 minutes, forcing the Nighthawks into 15 turnovers in the first half. Coming into the contest, North Georgia averaged 14.2 turnovers per game.
Third Period
- Smiley drilled a triple and Alexa Gramann followed with a layup to give King a 41-40 lead early in the period.
- The teams then traded points until North Georgia scored nine straight points over the final four minutes of the quarter.
- Dunbar ended the spurt with a layup in the final 10 seconds that pulled King within 55-50 going to the fourth quarter.
Fourth Period
- The North Georgia run continued in the fourth quarter as the Nighthawks scored the first five points of the period.
- The Tornado deficit grew to 71-58 before a Jaelyn West layup sparked a Tornado comeback with four minutes remaining.
- King scored eight of the next nine points to pull within 72-66 on a pair of Le'Aije Ellington free throws with two minutes remaining.
- Ellington later made a three-point basket cutting the North Georgia lead to 74-72 with 17 seconds remaining.
- King had a chance to tie, trailing 75-72, but the Nighthawks forced a Tornado turnover and made two free throws on the other end.
- Ellington then made another triple in the final second, but it wasn't enough as North Georgia took the contest 77-75.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Dunbar led the Tornado with 20 points, three rebounds and three assists.
- Smiley added 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting.
- Ellington chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists.
FOR THE FOES
- Kaylee Stickler led North Georgia with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
- Caroline Martin added 20 points and 12 rebounds.
- Josie Earnhardt chipped in with 11 points.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- King forced North Georgia into a season-high 26 turnovers, eight more than their previous high.
- Dunbar's 20 points marks a season-high while Smiley and Ellington set career-highs with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
UP NEXT
- King stays on the road to face Conference Carolinas rival Lees-McRae College on Wednesday. Tipoff from Banner Elk, N.C. is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
- North Georgia travels to Carson-Newman University on Saturday afternoon.
