BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae women's basketball picked up its largest margin of victory against King since 2012 with the 85-59 win on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court this evening.
Leah Barringer,
Nadiya Hairston, and
Layla Tillery guided the Bobcats with 14 points apiece in the contest.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae –
85; King – 59
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (2-14/1-10); King (2-19/1-10)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats broke the 11-11 tie with a jumper from Logan Dutka and Lees-McRae then went on a 10-0 run to lead 21-11 in the first quarter. The Bobcats led 22-17 after the first 10 minutes.
- Lees-McRae scored 22 points in the second quarter and continued to put the offensive pressure on the Tornado. Tillery pushed the Bobcat lead to 11 after a fastbreak layup and Hairston converted a three-pointer at the 2:50 mark of the second quarter. Lees-McRae closed the first half with a 16-0 run to take the 44-23 margin.
- King cut the deficit to 19 points after Ashley Phillip knocked down a jumper at the 6:52 mark of the third period. The Bobcats built their back to a 20-point margin after Dutka scored a jumper with 3:19 left in the third. Lees-McRae used a 10-0 to end the third with a 65-37 lead.
- The Bobcats had their largest lead of the contest after Kirsten Watt tallied a layup with 8:40 left and Lees-McRae secured the 85-59 Conference Carolinas win on their home court.
- Lees-McRae shot a season-high 52.2% (35-67) from the field in tonight's win and added five three-pointers in the game. The Bobcats went 10-15 from the free-throw line.
- Barringer, Hairston, and Tillery collected 14 points each in the victory. Dutka followed with a double-double on 11 points and 10 rebounds. Watt joined her teammates in double-digit scoring with 10 points on 5-8 shooting.
- Emily Barr registered eight points in 16 minutes off the bench and Dianna Spence added five points for the Bobcats.
FOR THE TORNADO:
- Morgan Bone led King with 11 points off the bench in the game. Brianna Dunbar and Ashley Phillip each scored 10 points for the Tornado.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Lees-McRae now leads the 2023-24 edition of the "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" 8-2 after splitting tonight's basketball doubleheader.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae women's basketball hosts Young Harris on Saturday, Feb. 3 on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court at 2 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
