Bristol, Tenn. – King opened the night with one of its strongest first quarters of the season, but Lees-McRae responded with a dominant third-quarter performance to flip the game and hand the Tornado their first home loss of January. Despite a career night from
Jaelyn West, King couldn't overcome turnovers and timely Bobcat shooting down the stretch.
Game Flow
King came out firing, racing to a 24–11 lead after the first quarter behind 57 percent shooting and five made threes. The Tornado controlled the pace early, defending the arc well and forcing Lees-McRae into a 1-for-10 start from deep.
The Bobcats settled in during the second quarter, hitting five threes and outscoring King 20–10 to cut the Tornado lead to 34–31 at halftime.
Lees-McRae seized full momentum in the third. Behind 52.9 percent shooting and a perfect 8-for-8 mark at the free-throw line, the Bobcats erupted for 28 points and turned a three-point deficit into a 59–47 advantage entering the fourth.
King made a late push in the final period, trimming the margin behind buckets from West and
Mary Elizabeth Fox, but Lees-McRae's composure at the line and steady half-court execution kept the Tornado from completing the comeback.
King Highlights
Jaelyn West delivered a career performance, pouring in 33 points on 11-of-20 shooting while knocking down seven threes. She added 10 rebounds for a double-double and played all 40 minutes.
Mary Elizabeth Fox continued her strong January, scoring 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting and grabbing seven rebounds. She hit three threes and provided consistent scoring throughout.
Aliyah Hawkins contributed 10 points, four assists, and a steal while playing 37 minutes and helping facilitate King's early offensive rhythm.
Samantha Lee gave King a major lift off the bench, pulling down nine rebounds, scoring four points, and adding two assists and two steals.
Le'Aije Ellington added two points and six rebounds, while
Emma Larios and
Raven Addison combined for two rebounds and solid defensive minutes.
King shot 39.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three, outrebounded the Bobcats 42–37, and recorded nine assists. However, 17 turnovers proved costly as Lees-McRae converted them into 17 points.
Lees-McRae Effort
Lees-McRae was led by
Nadiya Hairston, who scored 25 points, hit four threes, and went a perfect 7-for-7 at the free-throw line.
Kaylee Carson added 18 points and seven rebounds, while
Sandra Mason chipped in nine points and three steals.
The Bobcats shot 38.5 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the line, using a balanced attack and a decisive third quarter to take control.
Key Stats
- Rebounds: King 42, Lees-McRae 37
- Points in the Paint: 24–24
- Points off Turnovers: Lees-McRae 17, King 7
- Second-Chance Points: King 11, Lees-McRae 5
- Bench Points: Lees-McRae 13, King 4
- Three-Pointers: King 10, Lees-McRae 10
Conclusion
King's explosive start showcased the team's offensive potential, but Lees-McRae's third-quarter surge and ability to capitalize on turnovers proved to be the difference. West's 33-point performance highlighted the night, but the Tornado couldn't overcome the Bobcats' second-half efficiency.
With the loss, King looks to regroup and regain momentum as conference play continues.
Next Game
King returns to the Student Center Complex on
Saturday, January 17, hosting
Young Harris at
2:00 p.m. ET.
