BRISTOL, Tenn. – Maybe it was the unusual start time of 4:30 p.m., but the King University women's basketball team got off to a slow start against Belmont Abbey College on Thursday evening. Brittany Stringer nailed a three-point basket right before the half to give King a lead at the break. King then won the third quarter and put the Crusaders away in the fourth quarter to take the contest 64-47.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 64, Belmont Abbey 47
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 15-8, 14-3 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 7-16, 6-11 Conference Carolinas

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Crusaders scored the first five points of the contest and opened up an 11-4 lead before the Tornado started to work their way back.
• Madison Davis started the spurt with a layup and two free throws before Amy Van Deventer pulled King within 11-10 with two minutes left in the frame.
• Belmont Abbey answered with a bucket and held a 13-11 lead after the first stanza.
• Sheena Johnson started the second quarter with a layup to even the contest before the teams started to go back-and-forth.
• The Crusaders opened up a four-point advantage before King came back and Arnelle Collins evened the tally at 21-21.
• King again trailed by four before Stringed connected from long range with four seconds left in the half, giving King their first lead of the game at 26-25 at the break.
• Belmont Abbey opened the second half with four straight points to regain the lead, but the Tornado answered with a 10-2 run to grab the lead.
• Kristen Cupples banked in a triple to beat the shot clock and start the run, and she connected from long range again following a pair of Sydney Harris free throws.
• Stephanie Brantley capped the run, giving King a 36-31 lead with four minutes left in the third quarter.
• King extended their lead to eight, and held a 43-36 lead going into the fourth quarter.
• The Tornado held a 46-40 lead two minutes into the quarter before their defense dug in and sealed the victory for the Tornado.
• King held the Crusaders without a point for six minutes and 40 seconds, all while scoring 14 straight points on the offensive end.
• Johnson made a pair of layup and Stringer drilled a triple on the spurt that put King ahead 60-40 with two minutes remaining as the Tornado took the contest 64-47.
• Davis led the Tornado with 13 points while Johnson added 12.
• Van Deventer chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds.

FOR THE FOES

• Gabrielle Bethel led the Crusaders with 12 points and nine rebounds.
• Larisa Bishop added nine points and Taylor Gittings chipped in with eight points.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• In the game King only committed seven turnovers, their best mark this season and fewest turnovers since last year when the only committed six turnovers.
• The 13 points for Davis was one within her career-high of 14 points.

UP NEXT

• King hosts third-ranked Limestone College on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in the Student Center Complex. Saturday is also Senior Day as the Tornado will honor their two seniors.
• Saturday is also Brest Cancer Awareness day in the Student Center Complex as there will be t-shirts and cupcakes for sale with proceeds going towards breast cancer research.
• Belmont Abbey hosts Converse College on Saturday afternoon.