FIORINO POURS IN 30 TO LEAD KING'S WOMEN PAST DVC
(Lady Monarchs Clinch 2nd Seed and Home Playoff Game)
WILKES-BARRE -- Kaitlyn Fiorino poured in a game-high 30 points to power the King's College women's basketball team to a 81-64 Freedom Conference victory over visiting Delaware Valley College Saturday in Scandlon Gymnasium.
With the win, King's clinched the second-seed in next week's Freedom Conference playoffs as the Lady Monarchs improved to 14-11 overall and 8-4 in league play. Delaware Valley, which entered the game tied with the Lady Monarchs in the conference standings, fell to 13-12 and 7-5. The loss also drops the Aggies to the fourth seed in the Freedom Tournament. FDU-Florham, which defeated Wilkes 71-27 Saturday, moves into the third spot.
King's came out on fire in the opening minutes, building a 25-5 lead with 11:38 left in the first half thanks to Fiorino who scored 16 points in the onslaught. The Lady Monarchs would eventually up their lead to 41-16 with 3:17 remaining following a short jumper from Jenna Palumbo. The Lady Monarchs continued to dominate play and took their biggest lead of the half at 47-20 with 1:11 on the clock as Fiorino scored her 20th points on a pair of foul shots. King's would take a 47-21 lead into the break.
The Lady Monarchs kept rolling in the second half and used five points from Fiorino and back-to-back baskets by Kaitlin Malshefski to build a 31 points lead at 54-23 with 17:13 left in the contest. King's would cruise the rest of the way as the Aggies drew no closer than 17 points until the final four minutes of play.
Fiorino, who came within one point of equaling her career high of 31 points, finished the game 9-of-16 from the floor and 4-of-9 from three-point range while going 8-of-9 from the foul line. Malshefski played a solid all-around game with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting while adding three rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Palumbo netted 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists while Jessica Paettie contributed seven points. Lauren Kendra tallied six points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals while Krystina Durako chipped in with six points.
Delaware Valley was led by Brooke Ditmar with 25 points and 21 rebounds while Moira Donohue added 12 points.
King's will host FDU-Florham in the Freedom Conference Tournament semi-finals Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.
KING'S COLLEGE 81, DELAWARE VALLEY 64
DELAWARE VALLEY COLL (13-12/7-5 Freedom)
Brooke Dittmar 5-11 15-16 25; Moira Donohue 4-19 0-4 12; Jessica Ruvolis 1-5 7-8 9; Brittany Battinieri 2-12 4-4 8; Kim Vennera 2-5 3-4 7; Amanda Wilson 1-1 0-0 2; Michelle Oyer 0-3 1-2 1; Jen McCarthy 0-5 0-0 0; Rochelle Teesdale 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-62 30-38 64.
KING'S COLLEGE (14-11/8-4 Freedom)
Kaitlyn Fiorino 9-16 8-9 30; Kaitlyn Malshefski 6-10 2-2 15; Jenna Palumbo 4-11 2-2 12; Jessica Paettie 1-3 4-4 7; Krystina Durako 3-4 0-0 6; Lauren Kendra 1-6 4-9 6; Andrea Carroll 1-2 2-2 5; Andrea Hochstuhl 0-2 0-0 0; Kristen Baumes 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-56 22-28 81.
Delaware Valley…........... 21 43 - 64
King's College................. 47 34 - 81
3-point goals--Delaware Valley Coll 4-24 (Moira Donohue 4-11; Jessica Ruvolis 0-1; Brittany Battinieri 0-8; Kim Vennera 0-1; Jen McCarthy 0-2; Rochelle Teesdale 0-1), King's College 9-30 (Kaitlyn Fiorino 4-9; Jenna Palumbo 2-8; Kaitlyn Malshefski 1-3; Jessica Paettie 1-3; Andrea Carroll 1-2; Kristen Baumes 0-2; Lauren Kendra 0-3). Fouled out--Delaware Valley Coll-Jessica Ruvolis, King's College-Kaitlyn Malshefski; Andrea Hochstuhl. Rebounds--Delaware Valley Coll 53 (Brooke Dittmar 21), King's College 32 (Lauren Kendra 5; Andrea Hochstuhl 5). Assists--Delaware Valley Coll 9 (Brittany Battinieri 3), King's College 16 (Lauren Kendra 5). Total fouls--Delaware Valley Coll 23, King's College 21. Technical fouls--Delaware Valley Coll-None, King's College-None. A-325
