WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 24, 2019) – Fresh off a big conference win over previously undefeated Misericordia, the King's College women' basketball team will face its second ranked opponent in as many games with a home test against No. 21/18 DeSales University Saturday afternoon. The Monarchs knocked Misericordia University from the ranks of the unbeaten on Wednesday with an 80-70 win, as Alexis Steeber posted a team-high 21 points for King's.

Event Details
Opponent: vs. DeSales University (15-2, 6-0 MAC Freedom)
Date: Saturday, January 26, 2019
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA – McGrane Gymnasium (Directions)
Live Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

Last Time Out: It wasn't always pretty, and it wasn't perfect, but the result was what head coach Caitlin Hadzimichalis was looking for as her King's College women's basketball team pulled the upset of previously undefeated Misericordia University 80-70 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) action from McGrane Gymnasium.

The Cougars came into the game having won their first 16 games of the 2018-19 season and were ranked No. 24 in the D3hoops.com Poll and No. 20 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 poll. Misericordia was one of just five remaining Division III women's basketball teams that had yet to lose, but the Monarchs had the right recipe to get the job done.

The Monarchs went to a very aggressive zone defense, which forced the Cougars (16-1, 5-1 MAC Freedom) to shoot just 40.5 percent from the floor. That included 22 three-point attempts, which led to a lot of transition for the Monarchs where they thrive. King's finished with a huge 35-19 edge in fast break points, which included a 16-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
The win for the Monarchs was its first over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 14 FDU-Florham back on December 5, 2015. Four players were in double figures, paced by the team-leading 21 points from Alexis Steeber. The senior shot 9-of-17, while also contributing five rebounds and three steals. Her point total of 21 was a season-high, and two points shy of her career-best.

Mackenzie Yori was 7-of-17 from the floor on the night, finishing with 19 points, four steals and four assists. The Hazleton, PA native has now hit 11 three-pointers in her last four games. Samantha Rajza was dynamic on Wednesday, as she finished with 16 points on 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc, while adding five rebounds, four assists and three steals. It was the second-highest point total of the season for the freshman.

Though not posting her best shooting night of the season, Rebecca Prociak still managed to chalk up yet another double-double, finishing with 14 points and a game-high 13 boards. The junior also added five assists, four blocks and three steals. Junior Kayla Dillinger was very strong defensively, adding a triple of her own in 35 minutes for King's.

The Monarchs were 28-of-70 (40 percent) from the field, making 9-of-26 (34.6 percent) from behind the three-point arc. It was the third-most triples in a game this season for KC. King's was also 15-of-15 from the line, including making all 10 in the fourth quarter. The 100 percent shooting (15-15) from the line was the best shooting percentage in a game ever for King's in a contest where the Monarchs made 10 or more from the line.

A Look At The Monarchs (11-7, 5-2 MAC Freedom):

• King's come into Saturday's game with the third-best scoring offense in the MAC Freedom, pouring in 71.9 points per game. That number rises to 72.6 in conference-only contests.
• In league action, King's is shooting 40.9 percent from the floor, which ranks second among MAC Freedom schools. KC is also holding teams to 37.7 percent shooting, third-best in the conference.
• In MAC Freedom action, King's has made the most three-pointers of any team with 33, while the 6.3 trifectas per game is tied for the most of any squad. Overall, the 114 three-point makes for KC is third-best in the conference.
• Junior Rebecca Prociak is second in the league in scoring with 17.3 points per game, making a league-best 99 free throws. Prociak is also fourth in rebounding with 9.6 per contest. Prociak is currently 50 points shy of 1,000 for her career.
• Senior Alexis Steeber has raised her scoring average up to 15.1 points per game, which ranks seventh in the conference. She is second in the MAC Freedom in made field goals with 113 this season.
• When the Monarchs make 75 percent or better from the line in a game this year, they have gone a perfect 8-0.
• Rebounding has been key for the Monarchs, as they have posted a 9-1 record when getting at least 40 rebounds in a game. The only loss came in a 69-66 loss to Marywood back on November 17.
• King's win over No. 24/20 Misericordia Wednesday was their first win over a ranked opponent since 2015, when the Monarchs defeated No. 14 FDU-Florham.
• The Monarchs have posted a 9-0 record this season when holding teams under 41 percent shooting in a game.
• Freshman Samantha Rajza played a season-high 31 minutes on Wednesday, scoring 16 points along with three steals. It was the sixth time that she posted three thefts in a game this year, and all three against Misericordia led directly to buckets.
• The Monarchs have had only six head coaches in charge since 1974 and have posted 37 seasons with at least 10 or more victories.  

A Look at the Bulldogs (15-2, 6-0 MAC Freedom):

• The Bulldogs have won 10 in a row, including a 73-44 win against Eastern University. Samantha Shinkus scored a game-high 20 points, while Averi Jordan added 14 points and 13 boards.
• DeSales currently leads the MAC Freedom in scoring margin, beating teams by 29.7 points on average. That ranks fourth in Division III. DSU's scoring offensive output of 83.2 points per game is also fourth in D-III.
• As a team, DSU leads the MAC Freedom in assist-to-turnover ratio, blocks, assists per game, field goal percentage defense, free throw percentage, and steals per game.
• Morgan Birmelin leads the nation in assists per game, tossing out 7.9 helpers a night. She also ranks third in total assists with 136, while her 2.95 assist-to-turnover ratio is ninth in the nation.
• Birmelin posts 11.6 points per game along with her team-leading 52 steals.
• Leandra Sterner paces the team offensively with a scoring average of 15.8 points per game, though she hasn't played in the last six games.
• The Bulldogs have one of the most balanced teams in the country, playing 10 players over 10 minutes per game.
• Shinkus is second on the team in scoring with 12.7 points a game, while adding 5.8 rebounds per night.
• Bridget Walsh has started all 17 games as well for the Bulldogs, leading the team with 9.1 rebounds and 49 blocks. Walsh is fifth in the MAC Freedom in rebounding, and her 2.94 blocks per game is 7^th in Division III.
• DSU's two losses this season have come by a combined six points, falling by five to No. 3 Scranton and one to The Sage Colleges.

Against DeSales: King's is 27-40 all-time against the Bulldogs, dating back to the first meeting in 1978. The Bulldogs have won 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Monarchs, also earning the first of the two-game series this season earlier in the year down in Center Valley, PA.
Up Next: King's will travel to Eastern University on Wednesday, January 30 at 6 p.m. for MAC Freedom action in St. Davids, PA at the Gymnasium at St. Davids.