CENTRAL, S.C. – The King University women's basketball team started Monday night's contest with a lead in the first quarter at Southern Wesleyan University. However, the Warriors responded with a big second quarter and outscored the Tornado in the second half to take the contest 83-63.
THE BASICS
FINAL: Southern Wesleyan 83, King 63
LOCATION: Historic Tysinger Gymnasium; Central, S.C.
RECORDS: King 1-17, 0-8 Conference Carolinas; Southern Wesleyan 7-11, 5-4 Conference Carolinas
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- The Tornado got off to a hot start as back-to-back Ashley Allen layups gave the Tornado a 6-2 lead in the opening minutes.
- Midway through the quarter, Southern Wesleyan took an 11-10 lead, but Allen answered with a layup to give the lead back to the Tornado.
- The lead then traded hands twice and the Tornado broke a 15-15 tie with five straight points, a Kiley Beach layup and Le'Aije Ellington triple gave King a 20-15 lead.
- The teams then traded points as King led 22-19 going to the second quarter.
Second Period
- Southern Wesleyan scored the first four points of the quarter before another Beach layup regained the lead for the Tornado.
- Jaylasia Office scored five straight points, vaulting the Tornado to a 29-25 lead with a triple and jump shot.
- However, the Warriors outscored King 14-2 over the final 6:23 of the quarter, including an 11 straight to take a 39-31 lead at halftime.
Third Period
- The Southern Wesleyan run continued with the first basket of the third quarter before an Allen layup.
- The Tornado deficit grew to 46-33 with five straight Warrior points before King chipped away and pulled within 48-43 with a 6-0 spurt.
- However, Southern Wesleyan scored the final nine points of the period to take a 57-43 lead into the final stanza.
Fourth Period
- The King deficit grew to 63-45 before the Tornado started to chip away at the deficit.
- The Tornado scored eight straight points to pull within 65-53 on a Raven Addison triple.
- King held the deficit there until the Warriors started to pull away down the stretch.
- An 11-2 Warrior run gave Southern Wesleyan an 81-60 lead with two minutes remaining.
- The Tornado couldn't record, falling 83-63.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Allen led the Tornado with 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
- Alayna Smith added nine points and eight rebounds.
- The difference came at the free throw line where the Warriors went 17-for-20 while King went 4-for-8.
FOR THE FOES
- Lexi Greffen led the Warriors with 20 points while Asia Pearly added 18 points, six rebounds and three steals.
- Shelby Glance chipped in with 13 points.
UP NEXT
- King returns home to face Erskine College on Wednesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center Complex.
- Southern Wesleyan hosts Belmont Abbey College on Saturday.
