WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 23, 2019) -- Despite outscoring the Lady Royals 30-20 in the fourth quarter, the King's College women's basketball team fell to #3/#5 University of Scranton, 77-69, in the opening round of the Cross County Tournament. With the loss, the Monarchs fall to 2-2 on the season.

Scranton controlled the first quarter, storming out to a commanding 22-7 lead, as they held King's scoreless for the first 3:21 of the game before a layup by senior Rebecca Prociak put the Monarchs on the board. The Lady Royals continued to roll in the first half as their lead amounted to 21, 38-17, with 3:09 left in the half off a three by Bridget Monaghan. The Monarchs pulled within 16 off a three by freshman Emily Morano and a jumper by sophomore Emily Kriston before a Scranton three ended the half as Scranton led, 41-22.

Out of the half time locker room, Scranton continued to build their lead as they held a 26-point advantage, 48-22, with 6:01 left in the third quarter before the Monarchs were able to pull within 16, 55-39 off a jumper by senior Mackenzie Yori. The Lady Royals ended the period with a buzzer-beating layup by Erin Worzel as they maintained their lead, 57-39.

King's scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to pull within 12, 57-45, with 9:46 left in the game. The two teams traded baskets, but the Monarchs were able to inch within 10, 70-60, off a free throw by Prociak with 1:55 to go in the contest. Two more baskets from the charity strip by Prociak saw King's within eight, 70-62, with 1:22 left. The Monarchs implemented their full-court press to disrupt the Lady Royals offense, but layups by Makenzie Mason and Emily Shurina saw the Scranton lead stay at 10, 74-64, with 15 seconds to go. Two Kriston free throws and a Morano three brought the Monarchs within six, 75-69, with eight seconds left, but two free throws by Lily Warhaftig sealed the win for Scranton as they handed the Monarchs their second loss of the season, 77-69.

Each Monarch to record points in tonight's game totaled double figures. Prociak led the offense again with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting with five rebounds. Sophomore Sam Rajza continued her strong start to the season, totaling 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting, six assists, six steals, and four rebounds. Yori and Morano both recorded 13 points, with Yori connecting on 6-of-14 from the floor and Morano added five boards. Kriston was the other lone-Monarch in double-digits, coming up just shy of a double-double with 11 points and a team-high nine assists.

As a team, shot 42.4 percent for the game, as they dished out 21 assists on their 25 made field goals. They also pulled down 29 rebounds and recorded 11 steals in the loss. King's also outscored the Lady Royals in points off turnovers, 17-12, and fast break points (7-1).

With a quick turnaround, the Monarchs are back in action for the final time before the holiday break as they host Marywood University tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. as the final game of the Cross County Tournament.