BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's basketball team held a late lead, but fell in the final minute Tuesday night, dropping a nonconference contest 70-68 to Emory & Henry College.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Emory & Henry 70, King 68
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 0-3; Emory & Henry 2-1
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Emory & Henry had the hot shooting early, taking an early 6-2 lead before a free throw by Alayna Smith and a jumper by Torey Walker pulled King to within 6-5.
- That was the start of what would turn out to be an 8-0 King scoring run, which saw them take a 10-6 lead with 2:37 left.
- The Wasps battled back to make the score 15-12, but Walker would hit a jumper with 15 seconds left to put King up 17-12 after the first 10 minutes.
Second Period
- The Wasps would score the first eight points of the half, taking a 20-17 lead until Raven Addison hit a fastbreak jumper to pull King back to within 20-19.
- After trading the lead, the Tornado went back in front thanks to a pair of Jaelyn West free throws, starting a 7-2 run punctuated by a three from Maddie Bryant, putting the Tornado in front 30-26.
- Both teams would score in the closing minutes, with West hitting a jumper with 55 seconds left to hand King a 32-28 lead heading into halftime.
Third Period
- After Alexa Gramann hit a pair of early free throws, Ashley Allen grabbed a defensive rebound and hit the layup at the other end, stretching the lead to 36-28.
- The Tornado continued to grow the lead, with Gramann and Allen hitting consecutive jumpers to stretch the lead to 41-30.
- A 16-5 Wasps scoring run saw them pull even at 46 before taking a 48-46 advantage.
- After Morgan Bone hit a three with 1:15 left the Wasps would hit two free throws to take a 50-49 advantage into the final quarter.
Fourth Period
- The Tornado trailed for the first five minutes, before Walker hit a layup, drew the foul and hit the ensuing free throw, completing the old fashioned three-point play to tie the score at 59.
- King would pull into the lead off an Smith jumper, eventually working it to a five-point lead on a three point shot by Jaylasia Office with 2:27 to play.
- The Wasps would score the final seven points, including the game-winning jumper with 13 seconds left to escape with a narrow 70-68 win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Allen and Smith both had nine points to lead the Tornado, with Allen adding 10 rebounds while Smith had five on the defensive glass.
- Gramann finished with six rebounds on four points, along with a block and an assist.
FOR THE FOES
- Emma Santoro had a double-double, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds while Mimi Traynham also had 13 points.
- Breanna Yarber scored 11, while Chelsi Hodges added 10 for the Wasps.
UP NEXT
- King will travel to Texas this weekend for a pair of contests. They will play Friday at 4:30 p.m. against the University of Texas Permian Basin.
- Emory & Henry will play Embry-Riddle University Friday.
