BRISTOL, TENN. – King scored 36 points in the fourth quarter as Lees-McRae women's basketball dropped an 86-78 loss to "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" foe on Wednesday night.
Kirsten Watt led five Bobcats in double-digit scoring with 16 points in 37 minutes of action.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King
– 86; Lees-McRae – 78
LOCATION: Student Complex Center – Bristol, Tennessee
RECORDS: King (3-25/2-16), Lees-McRae (2-21/1-17)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- King jumped out to an early 19-10 advantage, but the Bobcats cut the deficit to five points after the first quarter at 20-15.
- The Tornado used a 4-0 run to take the 28-20 margin, but Lees-McRae battled back in the final stages of the first half. Nadiya Hairston knocked in a jumper with 19 seconds remaining in the second half as Lees-McRae trailed 32-30.
- Lees-McRae started the second half on a 7-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 37-34. The Bobcats led by seven after a layup from Emily Barr with 3:25 remaining in the period and held the eight-point margin after 30 minutes of play.
- King regained the lead and the momentum after taking the 64-62 lead with 5:27 left in the fourth quarter. The Tornado earned the 86-78 victory in their regular-season finale.
- Watt paced the Bobcats with 16 points on 6-14 shooting and 3-7 from three-point range. Barr followed with 15 points on 7-18 from the floor. Nadiya Hairston collected 13 points in 37 minutes of play.
- Logan Dutka and Thailand Smith both finished with 11 points each and Smith missed a double-double by one rebound.
FOR THE TORNADO:
- Brianna Dunbar had a game-high 25 points in 36 minutes of play and Alexa Gramman followed with 20 points on a perfect 8-8 from the free-throw line.
- Jaelyn West scored 12 points in 23 minutes off the bench for the Tornado and Alayna Smith recorded a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae women's basketball rounded out their 2023-24 season and will look towards next season.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
