Defense keys Women’s Basketball in win vs. King

MARS HILL, N.C. - Mars Hill used 40 minutes of stifling defense, holding King to only 23.1% from the field, to pull off a 73-41 win on Sunday inside Stanford Arena.

Danielle Tucker had six points in the early going as Mars Hill (6-4) built an 18-7 lead eight minutes into the game. The Lions hit 7 of their first 14 shot attempts from the field. A Kelly Jackson three cut King's (0-9) deficit to 20-12.

An old-fashioned three point play by Tucker at the 7:47 mark made the score 27-14 in favor of the home team. King went scoreless from the field for a span of 8:17 as Mars Hill built a 38-21 lead at halftime. Tucker had 14 points in the first 20 minutes to lead all scorers. King shot only 21.4% (6-of-28) from the floor in the first half, while the Lions were 15-of-35 (42.9%). King turned the ball over 14 times compared to only seven for Mars Hill. The Lions also recorded six steals.

Mars Hill opened the first seven minutes of the second half on a 16-3 run. The advantage swelled to as many as 32 points, 57-25, with 11:32 left in the game off a made free throw by Armeka Booker. An Amanda Westbrook trey with 2:14 left made the score 71-39.

Tucker led all scorers with 21 points and seven rebounds. Booker and Jackie Simon had 13 and 11 points, respectively. Simon also tallied seven rebounds. Kristen Metcalf added eight points and four steals.

King's Mikki Oliver and Alley Sprouse recorded 10 points apiece. Sprouse also had nine rebounds.

Mars Hill finished the game 27-of-68 (39.7%) from the field and 16-of-21 (76.2%) from the free throw line. King was 12-of-52 and 12-of-17 from the charity stripe.