Box Score Breanna Richardson and Aneysa Williams combined for 28 points in the loss to King University. Tatiana Manuel followed with 9 points and 9 rebounds while Tatiyana Mahone contributed 8 points and 6 rebounds.
The King University Tornado women's basketball team struck first in the Warriors fourth conference meeting on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors struck back with a jump shot from Tatiyana Mahone making the score 4-2. King continued to rally while SWU fought with a 3-pointer from Kristen Smith and layups from Aneysa Williams, Tatiana Manuel, and Breanna Richardson, but it wasn't enough as King pulled ahead in the first quarter 18-13.
The Warriors responded first in the second quarter with a made layup and free throw from Williams. Southern Wesleyan continued to fight as Cayse Branyon hit a 3-pointer to bring the Warriors within 6 at 27-21. Tomi Sanchez made a layup and Tatiyana Mahone scored a 3-point jump shot to put the Warriors within 10, but it wasn't enough as King finished the first half ahead 38-26.
The Southern Wesleyan women's basketball team came out strong in the second half with a layup made by Williams and a 3-pointer from Mahone. Kristen Smith made a jump shot to pull the Warriors back within 5 points at 38-33. The King Tornado responds and makes the score 42-33. The Warriors played tough defense throughout the entire third quarter, but the Tornado stayed on top at 60-45.
The Warriors jump out quickly with a 3-pointer from Breanna Richardson, while King responds with made free throws to continue their lead at 62-48. SWU fought hard but was not able to come out on top, losing to King 74-57.
"We had some good practices coming into today's game and I felt our team played well," said Head Women's Basketball Coach John Davis. He continued, "We did a better job controlling the basketball, but King is a quality opponent and they executed and competed at a high level. We played a strong third quarter, but we had three possessions where we allowed their shooters get the open shots and that hurt us. This team is improving and I am ready to keep working with this team to push forward to another level."
The loss for the Warriors makes their record now 2-6 and 0-4 in Conference Carolinas action. King University is now 7-2 and 4-0 in conference play. Southern Wesleyan will next play on Friday, December 30 where they will take on the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs at 7 p.m. in Boiling Springs, N.C. They will then return home to face Lees-McRae in conference play on January 3 and 5:30 p.m.
