WILKES-BARRE, PA (February 8, 2019) – The King's College women's basketball team look to get back in the win column Saturday afternoon while honoring a legend, as the Monarchs take on local rival Wilkes University in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play.

All fans are encouraged to wear pink or purchase a Hoops for a Cure t-shirt ($10 short sleeve, $15 long sleeve) from one of the players on any of the teams. Both King's teams will also be supporting the Kay Yow Cancer fund with a free throw challenge during the month of February. Fans can support the teams by pledging a monetary amount for each Monarch free throw made during the month.

On Friday, February 8th all four teams will host a Play4Kay basketball clinic at the Scandlon Gymnasium on the campus of King's. The free clinic starts at 6:30 p.m. and runs to 8:30 p.m. It is open to all boys' and girls' grades kindergarten through 8th. Although there is no cost for the clinic, donations are welcome and will benefit the Play4Kay foundation.

Event Details
Opponent: at Wilkes University (8-13, 2-8 MAC Freedom)
Date: Saturday, February 9, 2019
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA – Marts Center (Directions)
Live Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

Last Time Out: Ashley Smink led a contingent of four players in double figures for visiting Delaware Valley University, as the Aggies posted a 77-62 upset victory over the King's College women's basketball team in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) action from McGrane Gymnasium Wednesday.

The Aggies were hot from the field in the opening half, connecting on nine three-pointers while shooting 50 percent from deep to take a 46-29 lead going into the break. In contrast, the Monarchs shot 12-of-34 over the first but was 0-for-7 from behind the arc. Freshman Samantha Rajza led the Monarchs with 10 points in the first half, while Smink led DVU with 15 points.

After the half, Delaware Valley pushed its lead up to 20 points with 8:16 to go in the third but King's charged back to make it a 12-point game going into the fourth quarter. The Monarchs continued its run into the fourth, pulling to within seven at 8:38 after a free throw by Alexis Steeber. That would be as close as the Monarchs got though, as DVU iced the game from the line with eight free throws in the final 1:29.

The Monarchs got a team-high from Rajza, as she finished one shy of her career-high with 22 points, going 9-of-17 from the field. The newcomer also added five rebounds and three steals for King's. Junior Mackenzie Yori connected on 6-of-14 from the floor including 2-of-4 from deep for 16 points, and junior Rebecca Prociak added another double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Monarchs downfall on the evening was their shooting from the floor, making just 34.5 percent from the field including only three of their 20 attempts from deep. King's outscored DelVal 36-18 in the paint, and outscored the Aggies 13-9 on second chance points but it wasn't enough.

A Look At The Monarchs (12-10, 6-5 MAC Freedom):

• King's College comes into the weekend averaging 71.1 points per game, which ranks third in the conference behind just DeSales University and Misericordia.
• The Monarchs are also third in the conference in free throw shooting at 72.1 percent, making 310 free throws on the year.
• King's has committed the fewest turnovers this season in the MAC Freedom, giving the ball away just 15.5 times per game and 340 total times. The Monarchs are also second in the conference in assist to turnover ratio at 1.00.
• Junior Rebecca Prociak was honored prior to Wednesday's game against Delaware Valley for her 1,000^th point. Prociak leads the MAC Freedom in points per game with 17.6 per night.
• Her 11 double-doubles this season are 32^nd most in Division III, while also leading the conference. She also is sixth in the country in free throws made with 130.
• Junior Mackenzie Yori is pouring in 15.2 points per game this season, also posting a team-high 50 steals. Her 43 made three-pointers paces the squad.
• Senior Alexis Steeber tallies 14.6 points a game, leading the team with 17 blocks. Steeber and Prociak each have tallied 129 made field goals to tie for the team lead.
• When the Monarchs have held teams to under 40 percent shooting on the game, they have posted an 8-1 record overall.
• The Monarchs are a perfect 5-0 this season when outrebounding their opponents.
• King's can clinch a MAC Freedom Tournament berth with a win against Wilkes or an Eastern loss Saturday at home against Manhattanville.   

A Look At The Colonels (7-15, 3-8 MAC Freedom):

• Wilkes comes into Wednesday's game having dropped its last five contests, most recently falling to Misericordia University 60-36 on Wednesday.
• Wilkes is allowing the most points of any team in the conference at 74.7 per contest, while allowing teams to shot 32.9 percent from deep.
• The Colonels are led offensively by the 12.4 points and 9.8 rebounds a game from Gab Giordano, as she also leads the team in made threes with 28 triples and 77 assists.
• Maddie Kelley is also pouring in 9.9 points per game, and shooting 40.3 percent from the field.
• Ashley Caster has started all 22 games for the Colonels, registering 10.1 points per game while shooting a team-high .522 among qualifying players. Caster leads the conference in shooting percentage.
• Alyssa Alfano adds 6.9 points and 2.3 rebounds, also making a team-high 82.5 percent from the line.
• Gianna Roberts posts 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds a game, while Vanessa Whitecavage comes off the bench to chalk up 4.3 points nightly.
• Head coach Tara Macciocco is in her first season with the Colonels, after serving as the head coach at Marywood University that last 14 years.

Against Wilkes All-Time: Since the 2008 season, the Monarchs have posted an 19-3 record against their crosstown rival. The Monarchs are 11-1 at home during that stretch and have won the last nine overall in the series, including a 73-59 win over the Colonels earlier this year.

Up Next: King's finishes its regular season with a road game at Misericordia University Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. before hosting Manhattanville College for Senior Day Saturday, February 16 at 1 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.