Mars Hill opens 2019 season versus Tornado

BRISTOL, Tenn. - The Mars Hill women's basketball team (0-1) opened their 2019-20 campaign with a 90-62 loss to King (1-0) Friday evening.

The Tornado began the game on a 3-0 run, but that was quickly wiped away with Tatum Boggs' three-pointer that was the catalyst for a Lions' 5-0 run.  The Lions built a 10-7 lead halfway through the first quarter before King answered with a 7-0 run to go up 14-10 with 2:36 remaining.  Mars Hill regained the lead late in the frame, but a Arielle Holloway three-pointer before the buzzer provided King the 19-17 edge after the first 10 minutes of play.

The Lions were outscored 25-12 in the second quarter, entering the half down 46-29.  King converted on five-of-12 three-point attempts and shot 53 percent from the floor.

  In a repeat of the first quarter, the Lions were outscored 19-17 with De'Ja Marshall leading the way.  Marshall led all players in the third with nine points and eight rebounds.  The Tornado continued to add to their lead in the fourth, outscoring the Lions 27-16 with Kiki Samsel's seven points leading the way.

Trinity Lee led the Tornado with 20 points, while adding six rebounds and five assists.  Samsel added 18 points while Julie Ford led the team with 10 rebounds.

Marshall, in her first game with the Lions, led all players with 26 points and 14 rebounds for the double-double.  Boggs added eight points and seven assists while both Alexis Pardue and Drew McMillan ended the night with six points.

The Lions take on Belmont Abbey Saturday, November 9 at 4 p.m. to wrap up the Conference Carolinas Challenge.