Box Score BRISTOL, Tenn. – In what was expected to be a back-and-forth affair between the two teams atop the Conference Carolinas standings lived up to the billing on Saturday afternoon in the Student Center Complex. The King University women's basketball team took a blow from third-ranked Limestone College early, but countered in the second quarter. However, the undefeated Saints had the final say as they took the lead late and held on for the 66-64 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #3 Limestone 66, King 64
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 15-9, 14-4 Conference Carolinas, Limestone 23-0, 18-0 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Saints used an 8-1 run to take the lead early in the first quarter, and their defense held King without a point over the final five minutes of the quarter to hold a 14-6 lead after one.
- The Tornado deficit grew to 13 at 29-16 with 2:34 left in the second quarter when Amy Van Deventer sparked the King offense with a jump shot from the paint.
- Brittany Stringer followed with a triple before Arnelle Collins converted a three-point play to pull King within 29-24 with one minute remaining.
- Jalan Harper took a steal and went the length of the court for a layup before Van Deventer made it a 29-28 halftime score when she knocked down a jump shot with six seconds remaining.
- King grabbed the lead three minutes into the third quarter on another bucket from Van Deventer as the teams started to trade baskets.
- Sheena Johnson converted a three-point play to give even the score at 35 and Kristen Cupples drilled a triple, giving King a 38-35 lead.
- However the Saints answered with a trifecta before the teams traded triples on their next two possessions.
- Van Deventer got the last bucket of the third quarter, giving King a 46-45 advantage going into the final stanza.
- The Tornado lead grew to 50-45 following a Harper triple early in the fourth quarter, but the Saints answered with seven straight points to regain the lead.
- The contest was tied for the eighth and final time at 53-53 before Whitney Mitchell converted a three-point play to give the advantage back to King.
- Limestone then went on a 6-1 run, capped by a Jasmine Kearse triple, putting the Saints back up 58-57 before Van Deventer answered with another bucket.
- The Saints followed with back-to-back buckets to regain the lead and held a 63-59 lead with 2:22 remaining.
- Collins made a free throw before Mitchell made a layup, pulling King within 63-62 with 1:38 remaining.
- However, the Saints iced the game at the free throw line as the Tornado couldn't even the score, giving the contest to Limestone 66-64.
- Johnson and Mitchell led King with 11 points apiece.
- Collins added 10 points and six rebounds while Van Deventer tallied 10 points and eight rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Kearse and Amanda Brandt led Limestone with 15 points each. Brandt added seven rebounds.
- Imani Atkinson added 13 points and Maurissa Lester chipped in with 12 points.
- Amber Wright grabbed eight rebounds.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado travel to Pfeiffer University on Wednesday night with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. from Misenheimer, N.C.
- Limestone hosts Emmanuel on Wednesday night.
