WISE - - Despite trailing for nearly the first 37 minutes of the game, King University overcame a 12-point first half deficit to claim a 65-61 non-conference women's basketball victory over UVa-Wise at the Prior Center Saturday afternoon. Forward Kori West came off the bench to net 15 points and grab 11 rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting to lead the Tornado to their second consecutive victory over the Cavaliers.

King (5-5) took its first lead of the game with 3:45 to play when Ali Golden scored off a Taylor Freeman assist to make the score 59-57.

Adalmaryz Rivera – Gomez quickly answered for UVa-Wise (2-9) as the point guard's bucket provided two of her career-high 17 points to knot the game with just under 3:30 showing. It would be the last time the game would be tied as the visitors would outscore Elise Clyburn's squad 6-2 over the remainder of the contest to pick up the non-league win.

UVa-Wise nearly put the game away in the opening 10 minutes as the Cavs made a blistering 64.7 percent of their shots in the first period. The hosts saw the lead balloon to as many 12 on two occasions, the last time coming when freshman Ada Stanley scored inside to double the lead at 24-12.

King began its comeback in the second quarter by clamping down on defense. The Tornado limited the Cavs to 3-of-17 shooting in the period and just six points as the visitors cut the margin to 30-28 at intermission.

The offense rebounded for UVa-Wise in the third quarter as Rivera – Gomez netted seven points to help her team outscore King 18-16 in the quarter.

Junior Cynita Webb would give the Cavs a seven point lead at 52-45 with 8:31 to play before a 20-9 run by the Tornado closed out the contest and secured the win.

Rivera – Gomez added five assists to her career-high 17 points while freshman Hanna Oliver made a trio of 3-pointers en route to 11 points. Freshman Bianca Lockamy led UVa-Wise in rebounding with nine but as a team the Cavs lost the battle of the boards 50-42 and surrendered 15 second chance points.

Ali Golden (14), Che' Davis (12) and Arnelle Collins (11) joined West in double figure scoring for King. The win was the first for the Tornado in the Prior Center.

UVa-Wise will return to play on Dec. 30 when the team visits Radford University in an exhibition contest.