WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 16, 2019) – Behind the 28 points and nine rebounds from junior Rebecca Prociak, the King's College women's basketball team went over .500 in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Wednesday with a 73-59 win over Wilkes University in action from McGrane Gymnasium.

Prociak just missed her career-high of 29 points, which she accomplished back on November 29 against Wesley. She did though break her personal-best for field goal makes in a game with 13, which is the most since Joanne Palakoski posted 16 against Washington College (MD) back on February 3, 2000.

Thing's weren't easy though early on in the game for either team, as both King's (9-7, 3-2 MAC Freedom) and Wilkes both struggled from the floor in the opening stanza as the game finished the first 10 minutes deadlocked at 14. King's led by four and held the edge for 7:19 of the first period, but a triple right before the buzzer by Gab Giordano pulled the game even.

In the second quarter, King's grabbed a seven-point advantage at 25-18 after a jumper from Prociak but the Colonels (5-10, 1-4 MAC Freedom) kept the game close for the entire period. Another Giordano bucket pulled Wilkes to within two at 29-27 but freshman Samantha Rajza was fouled just before the break and made both free throws to give King's a 31-27 lead at the half.

Prociak was a go-to player for the Monarchs in the second period, as she was 5-of-6 in the quarter while grabbing three rebounds and handing out two assists. After the break, the Monarchs continued to lead until the 7:54 mark when Wilkes took its first lead of the contest at 32-31 on a steal and lay-up from Maddie Kelley.

The Monarchs went back on top, but Wilkes regained its lead and held it after Gianna Roberts hit a jumper to give the Colonels their last lead at 37-35 with 6:02 to go in the third quarter. King's responded with an 8-0 run over 2:23 of the third period to take a 43-37 lead after a triple from senior Lindsey Dippre from the wing.

King's continued to build its lead up to as high as 10 right before the end of the third quarter, as Prociak picked off a cross court pass and rumbled the distance for fast-break score to make it 53-43 heading to the fourth. The Monarchs dominated the paint in the third quarter, posting a 16-6 edge as Prociak posted seven points and Sarah Wolbert made both of her field goals for four points.

The contest remained close until the King's went on an 11-1 run from 4:02 remaining in regulation until 59 seconds left to take the largest lead of the night of 17 points after a lay-up from Alexis Steeber off a great pass from Rajza.

Prociak was 13-of-20 on the night from the floor, and Steeber continued her consistent offensive play of late with 17 more points, going 8-of-17 from the field in addition to six rebounds and four assists. Junior Mackenzie Yori was 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep on the way to 15 points, and Rajza posed six points, six rebounds and five helpers.

King's was 31-of-71 (43.1 percent) on field goal attempts on Wednesday, holding Wilkes to 30.8 percent from the floor. The hosts won the fast-break point battle 14-4, while holding a huge 48-16 edge in points in the paint.

Wilkes had no players in double figures, but Ashley Caster posted nine points and eight rebounds, while Gabby Smicherko and Kayla Aufiero also posted eight points for the Colonels.

The Monarchs will return to the floor Saturday at Delaware Valley University at 1 p.m. in more MAC Freedom action in Doylestown, PA.