BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's basketball team opened their season against one of the top teams in Conference Carolinas, Emmanuel College, who had already played a pair of games this season. The Tornado kept the game close, but ultimately fell to the Lions 88-78.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Emmanuel 88, King 78
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 0-1, 0-1 Conference Carolinas; Emmanuel 3-0, 1-0 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Following a Kiki Samsel triple that evened the score, Emmanuel rolled off seven straight points before an Ali Golden trifecta got the Tornado back on the board.
- Emmanuel then went on a 13-5 run, opening up a 23-11 lead, and held a 25-16 advantage after the first 10 minutes.
Second Period
- Caroline Harville got the Tornado offense going with a layup early in the quarter.
- A Jada Owens layup a couple minutes later gave King their first lead of the game and capped an 8-0 Tornado run.
- The score was even at 35 following a pair of Trinity Lee free throws before the Lions opened up a 40-35 lead.
- Golden then beat the halftime buzzer as she crossed midcourt and drilled the shot, pulling King within 40-38 at the break.
Third Period
- The Tornado used the momentum from that triple to start the third quarter, scoring the first seven points.
- Owens started the run with a jump shot before Ryleigh Fritz gave King a 45-40 advantage with a free throw.
- King grabbed their lead of six points following a Lee triple that put King ahead 52-46.
- The Tornado held that lead until the Lions went on a run, outscoring King 19-5 over the final 5:29 of the third quarter to take a 67-59 lead into the final stanza.
Fourth Period
- King pulled within 71-64 following a Harville layup with nine minutes remaining, but the Tornado couldn't get a run going the rest of the quarter.
- Emmanuel held on to take the contest 88-78.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Golden led King with 20 points while Lee followed with 17 points.
- Fritz and Harville followed with eight points each. Fritz grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Breanna Locke led Emmanuel with 30 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
- Jazmin Allen added 24 points and 13 points.
UP NEXT
- King returns to the court on Saturday when they host Bluefield State College at 2:00 p.m.
- The game will be streamed live at kingtornado.com/watch
- Emmanuel travels to take on Converse College on Friday and Saturday.
