BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's basketball team tried to keep their hot streak going on Thursday night when the hosted Converse College. However, the Valkyries hit timely three-point baskets to keep the Tornado from taking a lead late in the contest giving Converse the 71-69 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Converse 71, King 69
LOCATION: Student Center Complex, Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 4-2, 3-2 Conference Carolinas; Converse 3-5, 2-5 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Back-to-back baskets from Trinity Lee got the Tornado off to a hot start, taking a 4-0 lead.
- The Valkyries came back and evened the score, but each time the Tornado made a three-point basket both from Jhayda McKinney.
- The second one gave King a 15-12 lead, but the Valkyries scored the final four points of the quarter to take a 16-15 lead.
Second Period
- Another three-point basket to give the Tornado the lead, but the Valkyries regained the lead a couple minutes later.
- In the second quarter, the lead changed hands four times and there were five ties in the second 10 minutes.
- A Ryleigh Fritz three-point basket broke a 28-28 tie and started a 6-0 Tornado run.
- Lee gave King a 34-28 lead with a pair of free throws at the end of the spurt.
- Converse pulled within one late, but Ali Golden beat the first half buzzer to give King a 41-38 lead at the break.
Third Period
- Kiki Samsel stretched the King lead back to 44-38 when she started the second half with a three-point basket.
- However, the Valkyries used an 8-2 run to even the score at 46.
- Julie Ford gave King a 50-49 lead going to the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws in the final minute.
Fourth Period
- Converse scored the first basket of the fourth period, and then held the Tornado off for the remainder of the period.
- The Tornado deficit grew to 59-53 with seven minutes remaining, King tried to get back to even.
- Each time King got back within two, the Valkyries would score on the other end to extend their lead back to two possessions.
- Golden pulled King within 68-66 with two minutes remaining, and the Tornado looked for a stop on the other end of the floor.
- The Tornado defense was solid as the shot clock ran down. Lindsey Hardin threw up a desperation shot from 25 feet, it went in to give Converse a 71-66 lead with 48 seconds remaining.
- Lee Answered with a trifecta on the other end and the Tornado got a stop on the defensive end to have a chance at the tie.
- King missed a three-point attempt, but got the rebound and was fouled on the attempt with 0.3 seconds remaining.
- However, both free throws were off the mark as Converse took the game 71-69.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Lee led four King scorers in double figures with 13 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists.
- Samsel followed with 11 points.
- Fritz and Golden added 10 points apiece.
- Ford chipped in with six points and nine rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Keyshuna Fair led Converse with 18 points and five rebounds while Hardin added 16 points.
- Jordan Brown scored 14 points to go along with seven rebounds.
- The Valkyries shot 44.0 percent from three-point range while holding King to a 25.0 three-point field goal percentage.
UP NEXT
- King remains at home to face rival Lees-McRae College on Tuesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
- Converse travels to Barton College on Saturday.
