Women's Basketball Loses at King

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Mars Hill lost to King University 75-53 in women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Student Center Complex. Ansley Ricker scored her career high 29 points in the contest. The Lions fell to 2-7 overall while the Tornados improved to 8-2 on the season.

Ricker was 9-17 from the field and 8-9 from the foul line. She added three steals and five rebounds. Autumn Ward had eight points and six rebounds while Kelsey Espinosa came off the bench to add seven points and five boards. The Lions did not shoot well in the game converting on only 32.8% (19-58) of their attempts. King hit 49.2% (30-61) of their shots from the floor. The Tornados out rebounded MHU, 47-31.

Bonnie Durrett led King with 10 points and 16 rebounds. Stephanie Brantley and Kelly Jackson followed scoring 14 and 13 points in the game, respectively. King scored 42 points in the paint, 14 off MHU miscues, 13 second chance points and recorded 16 points off the break.

After five lead changes and one tie, King took the lead for good with 10:44 left in the first half after Brantley hit a 3-pointer to put the Tornados ahead, 18-16. King would outscore the Lions, 20-7 to close out the half and send the teams into the locker room with the score 38-23 in favor of the hosts.

An old-fashioned 3-point play by Ricker with 9:23 left in regulation cut the Tornados lead to 12 points (52-40) but that was as close as the Lions would get. King answered scoring seven unanswered points to put the game away.

Mars Hill will return to action on January 4, when they play at SAC foe Queens University. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.