Box Score GAFFNEY, S.C. – In their final contest of the regular season the King University women's basketball team fell short at No. 3 Limestone College. After overcoming an early deficit the Tornado were ultimately not able to blemish the Saints undefeated regular season. King was led by a double-double performance from Amy Van Deventer.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Limestone 70, King 61
LOCATION: The Timken Center; Gaffney, S.C.
RECORDS: King 17-11, 16-6 Conference Carolinas, Limestone 27-0, 22-0 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a slow start on both ends of the floor, Limestone was the first on the board with 8:17 in the first quarter where they would take an early 6-0 led by senior Mariah Williams.
- The Tornado would grab their first points on a fast break layup from Arnelle Collins at 6:07.
- Limestone would take over for the remainder of the first quarter holding King to only nine total points, five of which came from Amy Van Deventer as King went into the second quarter trailing 20-9.
- At the start of the second a made jumper from Amy Van Deventer followed by a three-point basket from Brittany Stringer would shorten the Saints lead to 20-14.
- After Limestone would answer back with back-to-back buckets topped up by a made shot from the ark by Jasmine Kearse extending their advantage 25-14 with 7:04 on the clock.
- An old fashion three-point play from Van Deventer would then fuel a 16-0 run for King who would gain the lead 27-25 with 2:30 left in the half on back-to-back three-point jumpers from Jalan Harper.
- Sheena Johnson would seal the 16-0 run with a shot from the ark that would give King a 30-25 lead with 1:09 on the clock.
- The Saints answered with a quick five points as Amber Wright scored a bucket at the buzzer that would tie the game 30-30 going to the half.
- A 7-0 run at the start of the third quarter for Limestone topped by a made three-point jumper from Maurissa Lester gave the Saints a 37-30 advantage to start the half.
- Whitney Mitchell broke the silence for King with a jumper at 8:29 now trailing 40-32.
- Continuing with the hot hand Limestone recorded back-to-back-to-back three point baskets to lift a 6-0 run to a 16-2 run now up 46-32 with 5:56 left in the third.
- After a Lester jumper would give Limestone a 51-36 lead with 3:07 on the clock the Tornado would close out the quarter with a 10-0 run.
- Back-to-back three-point buckets from Johnson and Harper would close out the run for King trailing 51-46 going into the final stanza.
- Inching in on the Saints lead, a steal from Harper pairing with the bucket on the other end would shorten the Limestone lead 51-48.
- At 7:15 Kearse would add three more to the board for the Saints but Harper quickly answered back on the other end with a made three-point basket as King would trail 56-52.
- Van Deventer would make a bucket while being fouled at 4:02 and would convert the foul shot as King would trail the Saints 61-57.
- A Saint 6-0 run from a Kearse three-point basket followed by three foul shots after being fouled at the ark and converting all three attempts Limestone would hold a 67-57 lead with 2:07 on the clock.
- Limestone would then hold on to the lead after a couple King turnovers and two made free-throws from Mitchell gave the Saints the 67-59 victory.
- Van Deventer led the Tornado with 18 points and 12 rebounds shooting 6-for-11 from the field.
- Harper adds 15 and Johnson with 11 shooting a perfect 4-4 from the field.
FOR THE FOES
- Kearse posted a game-high 23 points and dished out four assists.
- Lester added 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting from the field, including 4-for-6 from the ark.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORES
- Her performance tonight marks Van Deventer's fourth double-double this season.
- After their loss tonight the Tornado finish the Conference Carolinas in third place and will host the first round of the Conference Carolinas tournament.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will end the season as the No. 3 seed and will face off against the No. 6 seed in the quarterfinal of the Conference Carolinas tournament Monday at 7:00 p.m. back in the Student Center Complex.
- Limestone will take on the No.8 seed in the Conference Carolinas quarterfinal at home on Monday.
