BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University women's basketball team erased a 19-point first half deficit to defeat Emmanuel College on Tuesday night. The Tornado used a balanced scoring attack with four scorers in double figures and solid free throw shooting to take the contest 74-70.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 74, Emmanuel 70
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 5-16, 5-8 Conference Carolinas; Emmanuel 11-5, 10-4 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- The Tornado got off to a hot start with back-to-back baskets from Le'Aije Ellington and Alexa Gramann.
- Triples from Jaden Potts and Ellington gave King a 10-5 lead four minutes into the contest.
- However, Emmanuel closed the period on a 15-0 run to take a 20-10 lead going to the second period.
Second Period
- A Lion triple started the period before an Ashley Allen layup ended the 18-0 spurt.
- The King deficit crew to 33-14 before Tori Smiley made a free throw and knocked down a triple.
- Jhayda McKinney followed with a trifecta to pull King within 33-21 following seven straight points.
- Gramann made five free throws down the stretch and Allen added layup for the Tornado, cutting the deficit to 37-28 at the half.
Third Period
- A Potts triple early in the period ignited the Tornado offense as King scored 10 straight points.
- McKinney followed with a bucket before an Ellington triple and a Smiley steal and layup pulled King within 42-31 midway through the period.
- The teams then traded points as the Tornado couldn't pull even with the Lions.
- Emmanuel scored the final five points of the quarter to take a 55-49 lead going to the fourth period.
Fourth Period
- Emmanuel scored the first basket of the period, but King responded with 12 straight points, started by an Allen layup.
- Potts came up with a steal and layup to pull King within two before Smiley evened the score and gave King the lead with back-to-back baskets midway through the period.
- Allen capped the run, giving King a 61-57 lead with a pair of free throws.
- Following a Lion free throw, King scored six straight points to take a 67-59 lead with two minutes remaining on a Gramann layup.
- The Tornado stretched the lead to 72-62 at the free throw line before the Lions made a pair of triples in the waning seconds.
- It wasn't enough, however, as King took the contest 74-70.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- King shot 19-for-24 from the free throw line for a 79.2 percentage.
- The Tornado scored 25 points off the bench while Emmanuel scored seven points off the bench.
- Smiley led the way for the Tornado with 21 points while Ellington and Gramann followed with 13 points apiece.
- Potts added 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
- Allen chipped in with eight points and 10 rebounds.
FOR THE FOES
- Emmanuel was led by 19 points and seven rebounds from Sydney Wyatt.
- Jeanetta Elder followed with 14 points and nine rebounds.
- Abby Crawford added 14 points while Jazmine Allen chipped in with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 20-point outburst for Smiley is her third of the season.
UP NEXT
- King takes to the road on Saturday to take on the University of Mount Olive. Tipoff from Mount Olive, N.C. is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
- Emmanuel hosts Southern Wesleyan University on Saturday.
