Box Score BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's basketball team fought back against Belmont Abbey College on Tuesday afternoon and forced overtime. However, the Crusaders prevailed in the extra session, topping King 74-70.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey 74, King 70 (F/OT)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 4-5, 1-2 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 7-4, 4-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- The teams traded baskets in the early going before Belmont Abbey broke a 7-7 tie with a 7-0 run.
- The Crusaders held the Tornado without a field goal over the final 8:39 of the quarter, opening up an 18-9 lead going to the second period.
Second Period
- Ali Golden broke the Tornado drought with a basket nearly two minutes into the second period and Madison Davis followed with a basket.
- King later pulled within four at 27-23 following a Ryleigh Fritz triple late in the period.
- However, the Crusaders scored the final five points of the quarter, taking a 32-23 lead into the break.
Third Period
- Kristen Cupples cut the Tornado deficit to 36-31 with a triple midway through the third stanza, but the Crusaders answered.
- Belmont Abbey closed the quarter on a 13-2 run, including a triple at the buzzer that gave Belmont Abbey a 49-33 lead going to the fourth period.
Fourth Period
- Belmont Abbey extended their lead to 51-33, their largest of the game, in the opening minute of the fourth period.
- King then started to chip away, cutting their deficit to 54-44 following a Trinity Lee trifecta midway through the quarter.
- The Tornado then scored 11 straight points, started by a Kori West layup before a Lee fastbreak layup that evened the score.
- Lee then scored another fastbreak layup, giving King a 60-58 advantage with 1:32 remaining.
- The lead was short-lived, however, as the Crusaders scored on their next possession.
- Neither team was able to score in the final minute, sending the contest to overtime.
Overtime
- Belmont Abbey scored the first five points of the extra session, but King answered with six straight.
- Fritz made a jump shot and triple to even the score before making a free throw to put King on top.
- However, the Crusaders answered with a triple to regain the lead and extended their advantage to 72-67 with 13 seconds remaining.
- Golden made a three-point basket, but King couldn't get any closer as the Tornado fell 74-70.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Lee led the Tornado with 20 points, matching a career-high.
- Golden followed with 15 points and four assists.
- Cupples and Fritz chipped in with 10 points each.
FOR THE FOES
- Allie Downing led Belmont Abbey with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
- Manuela Fungate posted 16 points and 13 rebounds.
- Maria Kuhlman chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds.
UP NEXT
- King returns to action on December 29 at UVa-Wise. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Wise, Va.
- Belmont Abbey is next in action on December 31 at Catawba College.
