Mars Hill drops season opener on road against King
The Mars Hill women's basketball dropped their season-opening contest against King, 67-53, on day one of the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge Friday afternoon. Sheena Johnson and Tiffany Holloway led the Lions with 12 points and eight rebounds apiece.
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - The Mars Hill women's basketball dropped their season-opening contest against King, 67-53, on day one of the SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge Friday afternoon. Sheena Johnson and Tiffany Holloway led the Lions with 12 points and eight rebounds apiece.
Mars Hill and King had five lead changes in the first quarter before the Tornado pulled away, 17-12 to end the quarter. Holloway and Shaigna Wentz each had four points in the opening frame.
The Tornado swept through the Lions in the second quarter, outscoring them 19-5 to carry a 36-17 lead into halftime. Seven turnovers plagued the Lions along with Taylor Freeman's eight points.
Johnson and Maddie Webb each had five points in the third quarter, but King continued to keep the Lions at bay, maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the frame and heading into the final ten minutes of play.
Two quick three's in the first minute of the quarter from Arnelle Collins and Kristen Cupples extended the Tornado lead to a game-high 23 points. The Lions would take 10 of the next 14 points to draw within 17 points. Johnson had four points in the stretch. Mars Hill, with 3:45 remaining in the contest, would take 13 of the next 19 points, but the large lead built up by King held firm as they came away with their first victory of the season.
The Lions were outrebounded 60-44. Amy Van Deventer had a game-high 14 for the Tornado. Cupples and Kori West each had 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Freeman ended the game with 13 points coming off the bench for King and added six rebounds, three steals and was 2-6 from beyond the arc.
Mariah Johnson led all players with five assists, also adding six rebounds and five points to her day. Webb finished the game with seven points and six rebounds in 28 minutes of action.
King was 8-32 from three-point range while the Lions were 1-14. Mars Hill was 32.3 percent from the field (21-65) as King shot 29.5 percent (23-78).
The Lions fall to 0-1 on the young season as King comes away on the day 1-0. Mars Hill takes on Converse Saturday, November 11 to wrap up SAC/Conference Carolinas Challenge play. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.