WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 26, 2019) – Senior forward Alexis Steeber scored a team-high 20 points, but it wasn't quite enough as the King's College women's basketball team was topped by No. 18/21 DeSales University in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play from McGrane Gymnasium.

The Monarchs (11-8, 5-3 MAC Freedom) let 13-10 in the opening quarter after Lindsey Dippre finished an 8-0 from for King's with a deep three-pointer with 3:48 to go in the period. DSU (16-2, 7-0 MAC Freedom) answered with a 19-0 run over the six-plus minutes, eventually taking a 26-point edge into the halftime break at 46-20.

After halftime, King's outscored the Bulldogs 42-33 in the second half thanks to 14 points from Steeber and 10 points from freshman Emily Kriston. King's got the DeSales lead down to as little as 14 with 3:41 to go in the game after a triple from Kriston, but the Monarchs would get no closer as their four-game winning streak came to an end.

Steeber finished 6-of-16 from the floor on her way to the team-high in points, adding six rebounds and five assists. Steeber has now scored 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time in her career. Kriston finished with a career-high 13 points, making 3-of-5 from deep, adding four assists and four boards.

Dippre finished with three trifectas as well for the Monarchs, who finished one shy of a season-high in three-pointers with 11 made triples Saturday. King's show 50 percent from downtown (11-22), but 22 turnovers on the day along with just nine made two-point buckets hurt the cause.

Senior Kayla Dillinger posted six points on 2-of-4 shooting from three, and junior Rebecca Prociak was held to a season-low five points while grabbing a team-leading seven rebounds. King's was playing without its second-leading scorer in Mackenzie Yori Saturday, who came into the game averaging 15.6 points per game.

Samantha Shinkus and Averi Jordan each finished with 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting, as Shinkus posted 11 rebounds and Jordan added 10 boards in their respective double-doubles. Morgan Birmelin also added 10 points, eight assists and five steals for DeSales, which shot 39.4 percent from the floor but benefitted from a 36-11 edge in points of turnovers Saturday. The Bulldogs also held a 24-4 edge in points in transition, adding a slight 43-39 edge on the glass.

King's will return to MAC Freedom play this upcoming Wednesday January 30 at 6 p.m., traveling to Eastern University for conference action in St. Davids, PA in The Gymnasium at St. Davids.