SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The King University women's basketball team opened Conference Carolinas play on Saturday at Converse University. The Valkyries posted one of their best shooting performances of the season to down the Tornado 74-59.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Converse 74, King 59
LOCATION: Tom and Tracy Hannah Gym; Spartanburg, S.C.
RECORDS: King 1-8, 0-1 Conference Carolinas; Converse, 3-5, 1-1 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- Alayna Smith scored the first basket of the game for the Tornado, but the Valkyries responded with seven straight points.
- King fought back to pull within 9-7 following a Jaden Potts triple and Kiley Beach offensive rebound and layup.
- Converse scored the final basket of the period to take a 15-10 lead into the second quarter.
Second Period
- Jhayda McKinney connected from long range early in the quarter, but the Valkyries responded with a 9-0 run to take a 28-13 lead before a Smith three-point play for the Tornado.
- Ashley Allen then scored four straight Tornado points before a Brianna Dunbar three-point basket pulled King within 34-23 with two minutes remaining in the period.
- However, the Valkyries scored the final seven points of the period to take a 41-23 lead at the half.
- Converse shot 58.6 percent from the floor and 60.0 percent from long range in the first half while the Tornado shot 29.2 percent from the floor.
Third Period
- Smith scored the first basket of the third quarter before the Valkyries went on an 11-0 run to take a 52-25 lead before a layup from Potts midway through the period.
- Smith and Potts then knocked down consecutive triples before an Allen layup pulled King within 56-37 following a 10-2 run.
- Jaelyn West then closed the period with five straight points in the final 30 seconds to pull King within 59-42 going to the fourth quarter.
Fourth Period
- The Tornado tried to comeback in the final period, but Converse had an answer for each Tornado run.
- A Dunbar triple pulled King within 63-50, but the Valkyries responded with six straight points to extend the lead.
- A West triple cut the King deficit to 69-55 with two minutes remaining, but again the Valkyries responded with a basket.
- However, that was as close as the Tornado would get as Converse took the contest 74-59.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- King was led by 11 points from Allen as she went 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
- Potts, Dunbar and West all added 10 points with Potts accounting for four assists and three steals.
- Smith snared a team-high seven rebounds.
- The Tornado shot 37.0 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from long range.
FOR THE FOES
- Converse shot 53.6 percent from the floor and 50.0 from three-point range.
- Sydney Wilson led four Converse scorers in double figures with 19 points and eight rebounds.
- Jordan Brown and Sierra Jones added 14 points each while Zariyah Washington chipped in with 12 points.
UP NEXT
- King returns home to take on UNC Pembroke on Wednesday afternoon. Tipoff in the Student Center Complex is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
- Converse travels to Belmont Abbey College on Wednesday night.
