Kingsport Reporter

The King University women's basketball team dropped their final nonconference matchup of the season Monday afternoon, falling to the Carson-Newman Eagles 76-44.

THE BASICS

FINAL: Carson-Newman 76, King 44

LOCATION: Holt Fieldhouse; Jefferson City, Tenn.

RECORDS: King 3-10; Carson-Newman 8-5

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Period

• After the Eagles won the opening tip, Jhayda McKinney recorded a steal, then fed Le'Aije Ellington who drilled a three to hand King an early lead.
• Just over a minute later, Alexa Gramann grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back, stretching the lead to 5-0 and forcing a Carson-Newman timeout.
• The Eagles quickly recovered, as they got their first bucket with just over five minutes to play to start a 14-0 run that spanned the remainder of the quarter.

Second Period

• It took the Tornado all of 10 seconds in the second quarter to find the hoop, as Jaden Potts knocked down a triple to bring the Tornado to within 14-8.
• The Eagles would go on to score the next 14 points, with their scoring run ended with 5:46 to play when Jaelyn West made a layup.
• After a CN bucket with 4:21 left, Ellington made a fastbreak three, trimming the lead to 30-13.
• The teams would go on to trade buckets in the final part of the half, with Potts and Ellington getting baskets for the Tornado, who went into the half trailing 39-17.

Third Period

• The Eagles continued to expand their lead in the third quarter, as every time King scored, CN would come back on the other end and respond, including a 11-4 run to open the quarter that made it 50-21.
• The Tornado made a slight dent in the lead in the midway part of the period, as they hit four straight free throw attempts, with Jada Campbell making a pair with 3:29 to play to assist the Tornado.
• King and Carson-Newman continued to trade baskets, with the Eagles getting a late three to extend their lead to 57-29 before West made a layup with 24 seconds left, making it 57-31 entering the fourth quarter.

Fourth Period

• After King and Carson-Newman both scored in the opening minute, it would take until the 7:40 mark for another basket, which came from McKinney and dropped the Eagles lead to 59-35.
• Tori Smiley hit a pair of free throws with 6:21 remaining to further cut into the lead, making it 59-37.
• That was the closest that King would come, as Carson-Newman finished the game on a 11-3 run to take the 76-44 win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Ellington and West both finished with a team-high eight points, while Gramann finished with six points and five rebounds.
• Potts dished out four assists, while scoring five points.

FOR THE FOES

• Makayla Alvey led all scorers, dropping 16 points.
• Campbell Penland posted a double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling 13 rebounds. Harli Smith also scored in double figures, finishing with 10 points.

UP NEXT

• This was the final game of 2022 for the Tornado, who will be back on the court Jan. 4 at Conference Carolinas opponent Erskine.
• The Eagles will also be off for the holidays, returning to action Jan. 3 when they host Belmont Abbey

Original source can be found here