BRISTOL, Tenn. — King University women's basketball opens postseason play on Sunday evening, taking on Emmanuel College in the opening round of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Championship in Rome, Georgia. The Tornado enter the tournament as the No. 9 seed and will tip off against the No. 10 Lions at 5:00 p.m. inside Shorter University's Winthrop-King Centre.
King finished the regular season 11–12 overall and 8–8 in league play, earning a top-10 seed for the third straight year.
Earlier Meeting This Season
The two teams met once during the regular season on February 16, with Emmanuel earning an 83–69 win in Franklin Springs. Despite the loss, King saw several strong individual performances:
- Aliyah Hawkins led the Tornado with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists while playing all 40 minutes.
- Alayna Smith posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
- Jaelyn West added 10 points and 3 steals.
- King knocked down 11 three-pointers, including five in the fourth quarter during a late push.
The Tornado will look to build on that offensive rhythm while tightening up defensively after Emmanuel shot 50 percent from the field in the first meeting.
Scouting Emmanuel
Emmanuel enters the tournament 13–13 overall and 8–12 in Conference Carolinas, earning the No. 10 seed. The Lions are led by one of the league's top scoring duos:
- Naomi Roberts — 18.8 points per game, 8 assists in the first meeting
- Natalee Goff — averaging 20+ points over her last nine games, including 23 against King
The Lions also received a 19-point, 9-rebound performance from Kate Jackson in the February matchup.
Tournament Structure
Sunday's winner advances to the second round on Monday at 7:00 p.m., where they will face tournament host Shorter University.
The three teams that emerge from the first and second rounds will join the top seeds in the quarterfinals, held at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on Friday, March 6. The semifinals and championship game will follow on March 7–8 at the same site.
How to Watch & Follow
All games of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Championship will stream live on the Conference Carolinas Digital Network powered by Hudl. Fans may purchase:
- All-tournament pass: $25
- Daily pass: $10
Tournament brackets, live video links, and ticket information for the finals are available on the Conference Carolinas Championship page.
King looks to carry its balanced scoring and late-season momentum into postseason play as the Tornado begin their championship run on Sunday.
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