SALEM, W.Va. --
Madison Worley scored a career-high 19 points Wednesday for the King University women's basketball team, but it wasn't enough as they fell to Salem University 106-91 in a nonconference matchup. Worley was one of four Tornado to score in double figures.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Salem 106, King 91
LOCATION: T. Edward Davis Gymnasium; Salem, W.Va.
RECORDS: King 7-4; Salem 5-8
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
- King drew first blood, as Desiree Bates hit a layup to give King the quick lead before Salem hit a three.
- Ryleigh Fritz made a jumper with just over eight minutes left to kickoff a 9-6 King run, giving them a 11-9 lead at the media timeout.
- Salem took the lead with 53 seconds to play, but Worley hit a layup which was followed a short time later by a Jada Campbell three to give King a 22-21 lead at the break.
Second Quarter
- Jhayda McKinney kicked off the second quarter with a three, giving the Tornado a 25-21 lead.
- Fritz would hit a three of her own a minute later to extend the lead to 28-22.
- The Tornado eventually worked the lead to 33-24 with just under seven minutes to play thanks to three free throws from Worley.
- Salem would finish the half on a 24-15 run, punctuated by a buzzer beating three to tie the game at 48 heading into the locker room.
Third Quarter
- The Tigers opened the quarter on a 7-2 run, forcing the Tornado to call a timeout.
- After exchanging free throws, the Tornado got to within 57-55 when Worley hit a layup, drawing the foul and making the ensuing free throw.
- Salem then went on an 18-6 run, expanding the lead to 76-62.
- Brianna Dunbar hit a pair of free throws, but Salem would score the final four points to take an 81-64 lead.
Fourth Quarter
- The teams traded threes to open the fourth quarter, with Campbell and McKinney both hitting buckets for King.
- Worley and Trinity Lee them went back-to-back, with a Tigers jumper sandwiched in the middle to make it 88-74.
- After Salem made a layup, Fritz made a layup before Dunbar and Fritz hit a free throw each to cut the lead to 90-78.
- King would score 13 points in the final five minutes, but were unable to stop the Tigers, who scored 11 in the same timeframe to hold on for the win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Worley led the way for the Tornado, scoring 19 points and pulling six rebounds. Fritz had 15 points, while McKinney had 13. Lee contributed 11 points with Dunbar scoring 12.
- Fritz had seven rebounds for the Tornado, with Worley, Lee and Desiree Bates all pulling six rebounds.
- Fritz also led the Tornado in assists, dishing out four on the game.
FOR THE FOES
- Nerea Arambarri Fernandez notched a double-double, finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead all scorers.
- Aleena Mongerie added 20 points, while Kendra Stanford came one rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds.
- Fernandez Arambarri also led the Tigers in assists with seven.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Worley set a new career-high for points, scoring 19. McKinney (13) and Campbell (6) also set career-highs.
- Campbell also set a career-high with five rebounds.
- The three assists that McKinney dished out are a season-high.
- This was the most points scored for King since Jan. 22, 2021 when they scored 93 to cruise past Southern Wesleyan.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will return to conference action Saturday when they face Belmont Abbey College in a road matchup. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
- Salem will continue their four-game homestand Saturday when they host Bluefield State College.
