BANNER ELK, N.C. – Facing rival Lees-McRae College, the King University women's basketball team gradually pulled away for a Conference Carolinas victory on Wednesday night. King outscored the Bobcats in each quarter and was led by a pair of 20-point performances in their 69-53 victory.

THE BASICS
FINAL: King 69, Lees-McRae 53
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 11-9, 8-6 Conference Carolinas; Lees-McRae 7-15, 4-10 Conference Carolinas

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Period

• Ali Golden got her night off to a hot start with three triples in the opening 10 minutes, including the first one that gave King a 5-2 lead in the early going.
• Golden connected again from long range before Kori West evened the score at 12.
• In the final minute, Golden drilled another three-point basket to give King a 15-14 lead after the opening stanza.

Second Period

• Golden started the second quarter with a triple and jump shot, extending the King lead to 20-14.
• The Bobcats answered with a 7-0 spurt to take a 21-20 lead.
• Trinity Lee and West then scored the final two baskets of the quarter for the Tornado.
• Lees-McRae scored the final basket, but King led 30-26 at the break.

Third Period

• King gained their largest lead of the quarter at 45-35 following a 9-0 run. Ryleigh Fritz scored five points on the run, including the trifecta that forced a Lees-McRae timeout.
• The Bobcats came back and pulled within five, but Fritz answered with a triple to give King a 48-40 lead going to the fourth quarter.

Fourth Period

• Lees-McRae pulled within 52-46, but King responded with an 8-2 run to open up a 60-48 lead following a West layup.
• King later scored the final seven points of the contest to take the 69-53 victory behind a pair of 20-point performances from Golden and West.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Golden and West each scored 21 points and snared nine rebounds to lead the Tornado.
• Lee followed with 12 points three assists and Fritz chipped in with 11 points.

FOR THE FOES

• Makayla Smith led Lees-McRae with 16 points while Destiny Johnson added 10 points.
• Davinique Cambell scored eight points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The nine rebounds for Golden sets a career-high.
• The 20-point outburst from Golden is her second time scoring at least 20 points in a game this season.
• West reached the 20-point plateau for the third time this season.

UP NEXT

• King returns to the friendly confines of the Student Center Complex on Saturday when they take on Barton College at 2:00 p.m.
• Lees-McRae hosts Belmont Abbey College on Saturday afternoon.