WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 13, 2021) -- The King's College women's basketball team outscored the Penn College Wildcats, 44-18, in the second half to earn a solid 75-37 win on Saturday evening in their home opener. The Monarchs improve to 2-0 for the season while the Wildcats fall to 0-2.

A slow start in the first quarter saw the teams tied, 12-12, thanks to a three from senior Emily Kriston with 1:02 to go in the opening quarter. After giving up the first basket in the second, King's went on an 13-3 run to lead, 25-17, with 1:49 off a three from senior Samantha Rajza, posting the double-digit halftime lead, 31-19.

It was all Monarchs basketball in the second half, leading by as much as 21, 42-21 , with 6:11 left in the third off another three from Rajza after a steal from Kriston and a feed from junior Emily Morano. King's held the Wildcats to just 10 third-quarter points with their stifling defense, leading 50-29 with one quarter to play.

The King's lead continued to swell, building a 38-point advantage, 71-33, on a jumper from first year Megan Olmstead with 3:01 to play in the game. After holding the visiting Penn College to just eight fourth-quarter points, King's posted the commanding 75-37 win in their home opener.

Rajza led the Monarchs with 25 points off six threes, adding a team-high six steals. Morano added 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe, with six boards, two blocks, and two steals. Kriston filled the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while junior Sarah Heiskell-Mann recorded a team-high tying six boards with six points and three assists. 

Cassi Kuhns led the Wildcats with 12 points and six boards, while Ja'Quela Dyer totaled six rebounds.

King's shot 38.4 percent (28-73) from the floor, including 30.8 percent (12-39) from three and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. They also allowed just one three on five attempts from the Wildcats. Additionally, King's totaled 16 assists on 28 baskets, collected 34 team boards, and recorded 18 steals after forcing 35 Wildcats turnovers.

Inside the box score, the Monarchs held the advantage in points off turnovers (43-10), second chance points (10-5), points in the paint (24-18), and fast break points (15-0).

King's is on the road for their next four games, traveling to the Palestra to take on Division I University of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, November 16 at 4:00 p.m.