BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae women's basketball defeated "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" foe King, 69-58, on Wednesday evening on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court.
Sandra Mason had a team-high 15 points for the Bobcats.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 69; King– 58
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (6-12/4-10), King (9-12/7-7)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lees-McRae jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead after a three-pointer from Nadiya Hairston. Emily Barr added another point via free throw for the 8-0 lead.
- The Bobcats and Tornado were tied at 12-12, but Lees-McRae went on an 8-0 run for the 20-12 advantage and led by 10 after the first 10 minutes.
- Kayli Dunn knocked in a three to give the Bobcats the 13-point advantage and Sydney Hayes moved the margin to 15 points off a three-pointer with 31 seconds left in the half. King cut the deficit to 13 off a three from Le'Aije Ellington.
- Lees-McRae continued to build its lead with a layup from Barr and a triple from Hairston in back-to-back possessions. The Bobcats by 22 off a fastbreak layup from Hairston at the 2:20 mark of the third period. Lees-McRae had a 17-point lead heading into the final quarter.
- King cut the deficit to nine points off a fastbreak layup from Ashley Allen at the 2:48 mark of the fourth quarter.
- Lees-McRae held off the late rally from King and collected the 69-58 win on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court.
- Mason went 4-6 from the field and 3-4 from three-point range. Mason added five rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes of action.
- Hairston joined Mason in double-digit scoring with 11 points. Shayne Burton and Layla Tillery each registered eight points in tonight's contest.
FOR THE TORNADO:
- Allen recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Tornado. Ellington followed with 14 points and Alayna Smith rounded the scorers in double figures with 10 points.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae women's basketball heads to Florence, South Carolina to face Francis Marion on Saturday 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).
