BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's basketball team came back in the fourth quarter at North Greenville University on Tuesday night. However, the Tornado couldn't take the lead as the Crusaders used a late run to take the contest 78-70.
THE BASICS
FINAL: North Greenville 78, King 70
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 4-12, 4-4 Conference Carolinas; North Greenville 4-9, 4-3 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- North Greenville scored the first six points of the game before a Le'Aije Ellington layup got the Tornado on the board.
- King then went on a 6-0 run, evening the score at 8-8 on four straight points from Alexa Gramann.
- The teams then traded points as a Gramann three-point play gave King a 13-12 advantage with three minutes remaining in the period.
- The Crusaders answered with five straight points before a Tori Smiley three-point play.
- North Greenville then scored in the final 10 seconds to take a 19-16 lead into the second quarter.
Second Period
- The Crusaders scored the first five points of the second stanza to take a 24-16 advantage.
- King tried to work their way back, but each time the Crusaders extended the lead.
- Ellington knocked down a triple that cut the King deficit to 33-30 with one minute remaining until halftime.
- North Greenville then scored the final four points of the period to take a 37-30 lead at halftime.
- The Crusaders shot 50.0 from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, including 60.0 percent in the first quarter.
Third Period
- North Greenville extended their lead to 49-36 midway through the period, but King began to chip away.
- King scored five straight as a Jaden Potts triple pulled King with 54-47 with three minutes remaining in the quarter.
- The teams traded baskets and North Greenville scored the final points of the period to take a 60-51 lead into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Period
- North Greenville held a 62-53 lead when a pair of Smiley free throws started a King spurt.
- Ellington connected from long range before an Ashley Allen layup pulled King within two.
- Four minutes into the period, Smiley capped the 9-0 run with a jump shot that evened the score at 62.
- The teams traded baskets before four straight Crusader points gave North Greenville a little separation.
- An Allen layup pulled King back within two, but that was as close as King would get as the Crusaders closed out the 78-70 win with a 10-4 run over the final three minutes.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- King grabbed 41 rounds, 21 coming on the offensive end and shot 35.6 percent from the floor.
- Gramann scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds for her second career double-double. Eight of her rebounds came on the offensive end.
- Smiley added 16 points and Ellington scored 12 points.
- Allen chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- North Greenville shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the win.
- Maliyah Lockett led the Crusaders with 20 points and seven rebounds.
- Amareya Turner followed with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
- Abi Oates chipped in with 15 points.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Gramann set a career-high with 20 points. Her previous best of 18 came last month against the University of Mount Olive.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado return home on Saturday to face rival Lees-McRae College. Tipoff from the Student Center Complex is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
- North Greenville travels to UNC Pembroke on Saturday afternoon.
