BANNER ELK, N.C. – The King University women's basketball team earned their second straight Conference Carolinas victory, defeating rival Lees-McRae College on Wednesday night. The Tornado used runs late in each half to defeat the Bobcats 77-64.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 77, Lees-McRae 64
LOCATION: Williams Gymnasium; Banner Elk, N.C.
RECORDS: King 2-5, 2-0 Conference Carolinas; Lees-McRae 0-6, 0-2 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Alexa Gramann broke a 4-4 tie with a layup that started an 8-0 Tornado run. Jhayda McKinney capped the spurt and gave King a 12-4 lead with a triple.
- The Tornado lead grew to 18-6 following back-to-back Tori Smiley baskets.
- Jordan Weir collected an offensive rebound and made a layup as time expired to give King a 20-10 lead after the first period.
Second Period
- A Brianna Dunbar knocked down a triple early in the period to give King a 29-17 lead before the Bobcats went on a run.
- Lees-McRae scored six straight points to pull within 31-27 with two minutes remaining.
- However, King extended the lead and took a 38-30 advantage going to the second half following three free throws in the waning seconds of the period.
Third Period
- Lees-McRae used a 6-0 run to pull within 45-41 midway through the period.
- However, Jaden Potts and Le'Aije Ellington responded with back-to-back baskets.
- Rikkelle Miller and Ellington then connected from long range to give King a 10-0 run and 55-41 lead.
- Smiley later made two free throws in the final seconds to give King a 58-46 lead going to the fourth quarter.
Fourth Period
- King scored the first four points of the period to take a 62-46 lead in the opening minute.
- Lees-McRae then scored the next eight points, cutting the King lead to 62-54 with six minutes remaining.
- The Bobcats then pulled within 64-58 with four minutes remaining, but King came back with a Smiley triple and a pair of Dunbar free throws to extend their lead back to double digits.
- King then pulled away down the stretch to take the contest 77-64.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Dunbar led King with 17 points and four rebounds while Smiley followed with 16 points.
- Ellington chipped in with 10 points and Gramann posted seven points and eight rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Jala Holloman led Lees-McRae with a game-high 19 points while Aurora Roberts added eight points and 10 rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Smiley set a career-high for the second straight game, scoring 16 points.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado stay on the road for a nonconference contest at Wingate University. Tipoff from Wingate, N.C. is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
- Lees-McRae travels to Chowan University on Saturday afternoon.
