Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the King Tornado on Saturday afternoon in a 72-58 final score.
The Warriors were 30.6% from the field against the Tornado. Savannah Nicholson led the team as she totaled 17 points. She was followed by Danielle Earley with nine points, and both Makayla Raines and Peyton Looky with eight. Of the five assists, Raines had five. The other assist came out of the hands of Nicholson.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 37 rebounds in the game. Danielle Earley led the team with eight boards. Emily Gamon recorded two of the Warriors' eight steals in the match-up.
Game Vitals
Final: King 72, Southern Wesleyan 58
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-12 / CC 2-6) King (6-6 / CC 3-2)
How It Happened
The Warriors were first on the board as Savanna Nicholson laid the ball up into the basket. However, the Tornado answered as Ashley Allen stole the ball away and quickly went coast-to-coast for a layup. King took the lead as Le'Aije Ellington put up a three pointer. Back-to-back three pointers by Ellington and Aliyah Hawkins allowed the Tornado to extend their lead to nine.
The Tornado continued their attacks as Aliyah Hawkins got another one into the basket from beyond the arc. Emily Gamon stole the ball out of the hands of Raven Addison and quickly went down the court to make a layup. The Warriors chipped away at King's lead as Savanna Nicholson collected a pass from Makayla Raines. Nicholson took a step beyond the arc and put up a three pointer. She continued to challenge the Tornado defense as she got past them once again and laid the ball up into the basket. King led 34-23 going into halftime.
Just seconds into the third quarter, Savanna Nicholson got up her second three pointer of the game. Southern Wesleyan cut King's lead down to seven as Danielle Earley and Makayla Raines each laid the ball up into the basket. The Tornado would not relent as Jaelyn West allowed them to regain their ten point lead with a three pointer. With just over five minutes left in the quarter, Raines stepped just outside the arc and put up a three pointer. Another three pointer by Nicholson put the Warriors within four, but King answered as Samantha Lee knocked down a three pointer seconds later.
The Warriors pressed on as Savanna Nicholson stole the ball away from Samantha Lee. Nicholson was able to get the ball in to Kyra Price who hit a mid-range jump shot. Nicholson laid the ball up into the basket to cut the Tornado's lead down to one with just over eight minutes left in the game. Southern Wesleyan fought on as Danielle Earley hit a three pointer to tie the game up at fifty-four. However, King countered as Aliyah Hawkins knocked down back-to-back three pointers. Emily Gamon got up a layup, but King continued to distance themselves as Jaelyn West hit another three pointer. King went on to claim the game in a 72-58 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Augusta, GA on January 12 where they will take on the Paine College Lions. They will then travel up to Ferrum, VA to take on the Ferrum Panthers. The Warriors will return to Central, SC on January 21 as they host the Shorter Hawks.
