Kingsport Reporter

The King University women's basketball team held a 14-point lead in the second half of Thursday's game, but were unable to topple visiting UNC Pembroke, falling 73-71. Tori Smiley scored a career-high 24 points for the Tornado.

THE BASICS

FINAL: UNC Pembroke 73, King 71

LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.

RECORDS: King 2-9, 2-2 Conference Carolinas; UNC Pembroke 4-6, 3-1 Conference Carolinas

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Period

• UNC Pembroke took an early 8-2 lead before Le'Aije Ellington drilled a three to bring it to 8-5.
• The Braves would eventually take a 17-9 lead before Jordan Weir knocked down a pair of free throws.
• Jaelyn West hit a jumper with 53 seconds to play, but UNCP hit two free throws in the final seconds to take a 19-13 lead.

Second Period

• It didn't take much time for the Tornado to score coming out of the break, as on their first possession Smiley drilled a three, making it a 19-16 game.
• UNCP would score four consecutive points before a massive 15-3 King run that spanned the remainder of the quarter.
• West had five points during the run, while Alexa Gramann and Ellington both scored three times, giving King a 31-23 lead heading into halftime.

Third Period

• The Tornado scored the first four points of the half, with Jaden Potts hitting a bucket to give King a 35-26 lead.
• After UNCP cut the lead to 39-37, Rikkelle Miller hit a three, extending the lead to 42-37.
• King would stretch the lead to 53-40 with 1:11 to play after Weir hit a pair of free throws.
• UNC Pembroke would go on to hit a pair of free throws with 34 seconds left to cut the lead to 54-42.

Fourth Period

• The Braves started the quarter on a 7-4 run, getting to within 59-49.
• Gramann hit a layup to give the Tornado a 63-52 lead with 5:43 left.
• UNCP ended the game on a 21-8 run, with the game-winning basket being scored with just three seconds to play, allowing the Braves to escape with a narrow win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Smiley led the Tornado, scoring 24 points while shooting 8-of-10 from the free throw line and dishing out four assists.
• West scored 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Ellington finished with 10 points.

FOR THE FOES

• Courtney Smith led all scorers, finishing with 26 points and seven rebounds.
• Malea Garrison scored 15 points, and pulled eight rebounds to lead the Braves in that category.

UP NEXT

• King is back inside the Student Center on Saturday afternoon, hosting the University of Mount Olive. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
• UNC Pembroke will play as well on Saturday, facing Lees-McRae.

Original source can be found here