BRISTOL, Tenn. — The King University women's basketball team only shot 16 percent from beyond the arc, but were able to pull out a 50-45 victory over Converse University Tuesday night.
Ryleigh Fritz scored 13 points to lead the Tornado, who got 22 points from their bench.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King University 50, Converse University 45
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 13-11, 12-9 Conference Carolinas; Converse 4-22, 3-20 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Both teams scored within the first 30 seconds, with King winning the opening tip and Fritz immediately hitting a layup before the Valkyries responded with a three to take the lead.
- That started a stretch where Converse scored six unanswered points, taking a 6-2 lead with 7:20 left.
- It took until 4:07 left to play for King to score, which came in the form of a Brianna Dunbar jumper that made it 9-4.
- After Alexa Gramann hit a pair of free throws, Caroline Harville hit a jumper and Jada Campbell nailed a three, giving King a 11-9 lead.
Second Period
- The Tornado extended their lead, with Madison Worley making a jump shot to make it 13-9.
- Converse quickly cut the lead to one, hitting a three off a King turnover before taking the lead with 6:42 to play on a pair of free throws.
- Gramann made a fast break layup to give King the lead back, but with 4:33 to play Converse made a three to take a 17-15 lead.
- That would start a three minute stretch of neither team being able to score, before Worley hit a pair of free throws with 1:09 to play, tying the game at 17.
- Dunbar stepped to the line and hit two free throws with 31 seconds left before adding another free throw in the closing seconds to give King a 20-17 lead at the half.
Third Period
- Coming out of the locker room, King started on an 8-2 run, taking a 28-19 lead with 7:41 to play.
- The Valkyries then went on a run of their own, evening the game at 28 with 4:04 remaining.
- The two teams traded buckets over the final four minutes, with King getting a three from Jaden Potts to take a 33-30 lead with 1:40 to go.
- The Tornado also scored the final points of the quarter, as Desiree Bates made a field goal with 18 seconds left, giving King a 35-34 lead heading into the final quarter.
Fourth Period
- The start of the fourth quarter looked a lot like the end of the third, with the teams trading buckets, including back-to-back layups from Gramann.
- After the initial flurry, it would take until 5:09 to play before another basket was scored, with Converse scoring before Gramann responded a minute later, giving King a 41-40 lead.
- The Valkyries would take the lead with 1:44 to play, but Fritz hit a three of her own to give King a 44-43 lead, one they wouldn't relinquish.
- The Tornado scored six points down the stretch, all of which came at the free-throw line to secure the win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Fritz was one of two Tornado to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points along with seven rebounds.
- Gramnn ended the game with 10 points and six rebounds, while Caroline Harville had a game-high nine rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Zahra Cross finished with 13 points, making her the lone Valkyrie to score 10+ points. She also had six rebounds, tying her with Amaia Parkins.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The win completes the season sweep for King over Converse, marking the sixth time in the last seven seasons that the Tornado have swept the Valkyries.
- King shot 88.9% from the free-throw line, marking their second-highest of the season.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will wrap up the regular season Thursday when they host Chowan.
- Converse will also conclude the regular season Thursday, hosting Emmanuel.
