Bristol, TN – Southern Wesleyan fell to the King Tornado on Saturday afternoon in a 74-48 final score.
The Warriors shot 27.8% from the field and were 73.7% at the charity stripe on Saturday. Asia Pearley led the team with 11 points. Of the six assists, both Makayla Raines and Lexie Ransom had two assists.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 28 rebounds with Pearley leading the team with seven. Pearley had two blocks with DeYana Hayes right behind her with a solo block. The Warriors picked up nine steals.
Game Vitals
Final: King 74, Southern Wesleyan 48
Records: Southern Wesleyan (7-16 / CC 3-12) King (10-12 / CC 8-7)
How It Happened
Jaden Potts stole the ball away from the Warriors early in the first quarter to jump start the attacks by the Tornado. A jumper by Potts allowed the Tornado to take a 4-0 point lead. Makayla Raines was fouled on a three pointer to send her to the charity stripe. Raines hit all her free throws to keep the Warriors within three. King countered with baskets by Sarah Thompson and Ashley Allen. However, Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Lexie Ransom stepped beyond the arc to hit a three pointer. King distanced themselves with a jump shot by Mariya Williams. In the final seconds of the quarter, Taylin Smith sunk the ball into the basket from beyond the arc.
Makayla Raines passed the ball out to Asia Pearley who knocked down a three pointer to put the Warriors back within five of the Tornado. King answered with a three pointer by Sarah Thompson. Raines and Rahkhia Mack each laid the ball up into the basket. However, a three pointer by Le'aije Ellington allowed the Tornado to take a six point lead with just over two minutes left in the quarter. King continued to push ahead with three pointers by Ellington and Jaden Potts. The Tornado led 39-25 at halftime.
King continued their attacks in the third quarter with baskets by Sarah Thompson. Thompson attacked the net as she sunk the ball into the basket from beyond the arc. Asia Pearley pulled down a rebound and then quickly put the ball back up into the basket. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as DeYana Hayes and Alexis Glover each put up shots.
The Tornado maintained the pressure in the final quarter of the game as Ashley Allen and Mariya Williams put up back-to-back layups. A layup by Makayla Raines kept the Warriors within nineteen points of the Tornado. Mariya Williams laid it up, but the Warriors answered with a layup by Kaliah Kendrick. A last minute layup by Kendall Cross allowed the Tornado to claim a 74-48 point victory over Southern Wesleyan.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Young Harris, GA on February 11 to take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions. They will then return to Central, SC on February 15 as they host the UNC Pembroke Braves in Historic Tysinger Gymnasium. The Warriors will host the Erskine Flying Fleet on February 19 at 5pm.
