WINGATE, N.C. –
Le'Aije Ellington scored a career-high 15 points Saturday afternoon, but the King University women's basketball team was unable to pull off the win, falling to nonconference for Wingate 75-48.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Wingate 75, King 48
LOCATION: Cuddy Arena; Wingate, N.C.
RECORDS: King 2-6; Wingate 5-1
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- The Bulldogs scored the first eight points of the game before Jaelyn West hit a jumper to get the Tornado on the board.
- Ellington would then hit a pair of threes in the final minutes, but Wingate rolled to a 20-8 lead after the first quarter.
Second Period
- Coming out of the quarter break it was the Tornado who started the scoring, as Brianna Dunbar hit a free throw before Ellington hit another triple, this one cutting the lead to 20-12.
- After Wingate scored eight consecutive points, West pulled a defensive rebound and fed Jhayda McKinney, who nailed a three to make it a 28-15 game.
- The Tornado went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final five minutes, which they supplemented with a three from Tori Smiley that made the score 37-24 with 1:42 remaining.
- Wingate would hit a three in the final minute before Smiley hit a jumper in the closing seconds, making the score 40-26 at halftime.
Third Period
- After conceding the first seven points of the quarter, the Tornado started to find their groove, as Alexa Gramann and West both hit a pair of free throws.
- That was quickly followed by Dunbar hitting a fastbreak layup to trim the lead to 47-32.
- After Ellington recorded a steal, she went all the way and made a triple that brought the Tornado to within 47-35.
- After trading buckets to close the quarter, it was Wingate who found themselves with a 56-43 advantage.
Fourth Period
- It took the Tornado until the 5:55 mark to score, which came courtesy of a Smiley jump shot.
- Jada Campbell then hit a three, making it a 71-48 game with 3:54 to play.
- Wingate would score the final six points of the game, taking a 75-48 win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ellington was 5-of-5 from beyond the arc, and also recorded three steals.
- Ashley Allen pulled 12 rebounds on the afternoon, while Tori Smiley dished out three assists.
- The Tornado shot just 21.3 percent from the field, which is their lowest of the season.
FOR THE FOES
- Laura Kozo and Hannah Clark both scored 12 points for the Bulldogs, with Jaia Wilson adding 11 and Bryanna Troutman adding 10.
- Troutman also finished with nine rebounds.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado continue their nonconference schedule Thursday night at Emory & Henry.
- Wingate will play at Fayetteville State on Dec. 10.
