Box Score BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's basketball team may have turned in their best performance of the season on Friday night when they defeated Belmont Abbey College 107-63. The Tornado eclipsed 100 points for the first time in three season and had eight scorers in double figures in the Conference Carolinas victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 107, Belmont Abbey 63
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 8-4, 5-1 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 6-5, 4-2 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The contest was tight throughout the first quarter before King gained separation over the final two minutes.
- Sheena Johnson drilled a triple to start a 9-2 Tornado that closed the stanza. Whitney Mitchell later finished the quarter with a three-point basket and pair of free throws to give King a 24-17 lead after the first quarter.
- The Tornado began to pull away early in the second quarter, using an 11-0 run to turn a six point advantage into a 40-23 lead midway through the frame. Amy Van Deventer started the spurt with an old fashioned three-point play and Jalan Harper capped the run with a pair of layups.
- Sydney Harris gave King their largest lead of the first half at 52-31 with a triple before the Crusaders scored the final two points of the second quarter. However, King still held a 52-33 lead at the half.
- King used another run over the first half of the third quarter, going on a 14-2 run that opened up a 71-39 lead midway through the stanza.
- Ashley Albertson scored five points on the run and Van Deventer tallied four points on the spurt.
- Going to the fourth quarter, King held a 78-50 advantage, and the Tornado extended that in the final period.
- Kristen Cupples connected from long range, giving King their largest lead of the game down the stretch as the Tornado took the contest 107-63.
- The Tornado shot a blistering 57.4 percent from the floor, their best output this season.
- Johnson and Van Deventer led the eight scorers in double figures with 14 points each.
- Mitchell followed with 12 points and Madison Davis added 11 points.
- The quartet of Harper, Albertson, Harris and Cupples had 10 points apiece.
- Albertson, Davis and Harris led King with five rebounds each.
- Albertson added a team-high seven assists and Van Deventer dished out six helpers.
FOR THE FOES
- Chrystal Ezechukwu led Belmont Abbey with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
- Larisa Bishop followed with 10 points for the Crusaders.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 107 points marks the first time since the opening game of the 2013-14 season the Tornado have eclipsed 100 points. That night King scored 102 in a 102-78 victory at the University of Pikeville on November 14.
- It also marks the second time since King became NCAA Division II members in 2011-12 they have scored at least 100 points.
- King had eight scorers in double figures which is believed to be a school record based on available records. The Tornado previously had five scorers reach double figures on February 28, 2015 against the University of Mount Olive.
- The Tornado shot 57.4 percent from the floor, their highest shooting percentage since December 2, 2014 when they shot 58.0 percent in a win at Converse College.
- Both Albertson and Van Deventer matched career-highs in terms of assists. Albertson handed out seven helpers and Van Deventer dished out six dimes.
UP NEXT
- King returns to the court in the Student Center Complex on Saturday when they host Pfeiffer University at 2:00 p.m.
- Belmont Abbey travels to take on Lees-McRae College on Saturday afternoon.
