Box Score DUE WEST, S.C. – Erskine College handed the King University women's basketball a loss for the second time this season. Despite out-rebounding and out-shooting the Flying Fleet from three-point range, the Tornado were unable to pull off a victory falling 69-65. Jalan Harper led the Tornado, matching a career-high 23 points.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Erskine 69, King 65
LOCATION: Belk Arena; Due West, S.C.
RECORDS: King 16-10, 15-4 Conference Carolinas, Erskine 14-12, 13-7 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Tornado started out the game with some fire on back-to-back made three-point jump shots from Brittany Stringer and Harper sparking an early 8-2 lead at 8:25 in the first.
- Erskine was able to adjust and slow King down after making substitutions. A run was kick-started by an and-one basket from Kristin Giles as they found a way to seize the Tornado.
- With King up at the 6:07 mark 10-8 the Flying Fleet began a 10-0 run highlighted by four straight lay-ups from Christian Brown as they gained the lead 18-10.
- The Tornado would only add two more points to the board for the rest of the quarter both coming from the free throw line where Harper and Arnelle Collins would each go 1-2 ending the first quarter trailing 21-12.
- Playing catch-up in the second quarter the Tornado began to close the gap when Kristen Cupples drained a three-point basket at 6:25 to bring King within three, trailing 25-22.
- Following up a couple plays later was Madison Davis from the ark but the Flying Fleet held on to the lead 28-27.
- Erskine answered right back with back-to-back three-point baskets from Raygon Hendrix and Giles taking a 34-29 advantage.
- A layup from Sheena Johnson and free throw from Ashley Albertson ended the half for the Tornado trailing 36-33.
- Coming out of the half Harper sunk the equalizer and followed that up with a shot from the ark to take the lead 39-36 at 8:33.
- Again, Erskine would answer back with a 6-0 run topped off by a made jump shot from Hendrix at 5:46 as Erskine regained the lead 42-39.
- The Tornado defense kept Erskine from scoring from for the next two minutes taking advantage on the offensive end with a couple jump shots was Whitney Mitchell and Sydney Harris who gave King the lead 43-42.
- The King lead was short lived as Hendrix fired back with back-to-back buckets from three point range and Erskine would go on to end the third quarter up 54-48.
- Refusing to settle with the deficit Johnson and Harper drained back-to-back three-point buckets followed by two points by Harper from the charity stripe to steal the lead 57-56 with 6:11 to go.
- Hendrix would silence the Tornado again from the ark regaining the lead for Erskine and a Giles three would give the Flying Fleet a 64-59 advantage with 3:36 left.
- With 1:05 on the clock Harper's continuing impressive effort from the ark would make it a one possession game trailing 67-65 in the final stretch.
- With 0:37 left Albertson was given a chance to tie the game on the free throw line but was unable to convert either attempt.
- Naomi Stuger made it a two possession game for Erskine with a made lay-up leaving 14 ticks left on the clock.
- The Tornado were unable to execute a final play falling 69-65.
- Harper led the Tornado with 23 points, going 5-for-7 from the three, and recording five steals.
- The Tornado efforts were impacted by a 55.2 percentage from the free-throw line going 16-for-29.
FOR THE FOES
- Hendrix led all scorers with 25 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the ark, recording four assists and three steals.
- Giles added 16 for the Flying Fleet.
- Brown went 6-for-8 from the field chipping in 13 points.
- The Flying Fleet forced 20 turnovers from King.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORES
- Harpers 23 points marks a season-high, topping her previous 18 which she posted against Pfeiffer on December 2.
- With these efforts she also matches her career-high which she recorded at Southern Wesleyan a season ago on January 13, 2015.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado meet up with rival Lees-McRae Tuesday night in Banner Elk, N.C. for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
- Erskine travels to Emmanuel College Tuesday.
