WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 12, 2019) – The King's College women's basketball team scored 59 second-half points, pulling away from visiting FDU-Florham for a 94-83 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) victory in action from McGrane Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, the Monarchs (8-7, 2-2 MAC Freedom) pulled back even in the conference standings, while earning their first win over the Devils (6-9, 1-3 MAC Freedom) since 2015, a span of six contests. The Monarchs exploded for their highest half of basketball this season, as the 54 points were more than the previous high of 50 points against Wesley College. 

The 94 points also was the most since King's dropped 95 points on Penn State-Schuylkill back on December 5, 2012. It was also the most points that the Monarchs have scored in a conference contest since defeating then MAC Freedom opponent Drew University 98-40 on February 6, 2001.

The game though was close throughout, as the largest lead of the game for the Monarchs of 13 points didn't come until 35 seconds remaining. In the opening stanza, King's took its largest lead of seven at 15-8 after a lay-up by junior post player Sara Wolbert, eventually taking a five-point lead into the second quarter at 17-12.

The Monarchs would build their lead up to 11 points at 23-12 with 8:32 to play in the first half, as junior Rebecca Prociak knocked down one of two free throws. The Devils clawed back into the contest thanks to an 8-0 run to take a one-point edge at 28-27 after a lay-up by Helen Ishmael. On the next possession, freshman guard Emily Kriston connected on a triple with help from fellow newbie Samantha Rajza. King's held the lead until 14 seconds to play in the half, when Breion Knox stuck in a rebound to send the game into the break deadlocked at 35.

After the halftime break, FDU-Florham jumped out to a lead over the first 2:35 of the period before Prociak drew a foul at the 8:41 of the frame. FDU-Florham was whistled for a technical foul and from that point the Monarchs went on a 10-0 run capped by a triple from Kayla Dillinger to make the score 47-40 King's with 6:38 to play in the third quarter.

The Devils wouldn't go away, cutting the King's advantage down to one at 50-49 but the Monarchs would regain a six-point edge going into the fourth quarter. King's shot 50 percent in the third quarter, but seven second-chance points from FDU in the period kept it in the game.

In the fourth, the Monarchs would explode offensively for 35 points, shooting 71.4 percent (10-14) from the floor including 4-of-5 from deep and 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) from the line. FDU-Florham would regain a one-point edge at 62-61 after Kayla Crosswell hit a pair of free throws with 8:28 to play but King's pushed back with a 13-3 run capped by a deep three from Lindsey Dippre to make the score 72-65.

The senior guard would give the Monarchs a double-digit lead with another triple at 4:05 remaining of regulation and King's was able to ice the game from the line for the big MAC Freedom win. The Monarchs were paced by the 22 points and 13 rebounds from Prociak, as the junior shot 8-of-14 on field goals in 28 minutes of action.

Wolbert had her best game as a Monarch, as she came off the bench for her first career double-double, posting career-highs of 10 points and 10 rebounds while making all three of her shot attempts. Junior Mackenzie Yori finished with 18 points, six rebounds, four steals, making three from behind the arc, while Dippre added 11 points, four assists and was a game-best +18 on the day. Alexis Steeber also finished with 17 points in the victory on 7-of-16 shooting.

The Monarchs also got seven points, three rebounds and a game-high five assists from Rajza, and Dillinger posted six points and three assists. King's shot 48.4 percent (31-64) from the field, drilling 43.5 percent from deep (10-23) and connecting on 22 of the 32 shots from the free throw line.

FDU-Florham was paced by the game-best 24 points from Croswell, and Raven Dowling chalked up 14 points, five assist and four steals. Cayla Staggers and Knox each finished with 12 points, and Jennah Roman added 10 points as well for the Devils. FDU scored 56 of their 83 points in the paint, including 21 second-chance scores.

King's will look to keep things going on Wednesday evening, hosting crosstown rival Wilkes University at 8 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium in the second of back-to-back home MAC Freedom games.