GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA (November 9, 2021) -- Senior Samantha Rajza and junior Emily Morano each totaled a game-high 27 points as they led the King's College women's basketball team to a 112-103 win at Gwynedd Mercy University in their 2021-22 season. The Monarchs 112 points comes just one point shy of the program record in a single game of 113 set against Castleton State on November 17, 1989.

King's (1-0) got on the board first after a slow start as a steal from sophomore Kiersten Krouse led to a Rajza bucket. It was a back-and-forth effort as the two teams traded buckets throughout the opening quarter before the Monarchs built a 21-13 lead on a second-chance three pointer from first year Maddy White with 2:42 to play in the first quarter. The offenses went cold to finish the quarter before a final 5-3 run from Gwynedd Mercy (0-1) in the final 33 seconds saw King's holding a 24-18 lead after one quarter of action.

The Griffins held on in the second before the Monarchs built their double-digit lead, 34-23, on a put back from first year Alli Lindsay with 3:19 left in the half. King's was in control for the rest of the quarter, leading by as much as 19, 46-27, before heading into the halftime break leading the host Griffins, 50-35.

The Monarchs continued to command the game as they would not allow Gwynedd Mercy to pull within single digits in the third, holding a 83-65 advantage after three quarters of action.

The lead swelled to 22, 91-69, with 8:22 left in the game from a Rajza steal as she found junior Sarah Heiskell-Mann in the paint. The host Griffins would chip away at the deficit over the next 4:21 of play as they cut the margin to 10, 98-88, on a free throw from Haley Crossley with 4:01 on the clock. Gwynedd Mercy then went on a 6-2 run to pull within six, 100-94, with 2:17 to go before three points on back-to-back possessions from Morano and a free throw and three-pointer on consecutive trips from Krouse put the Monarchs back up by 10, 108-98, with 1:02.

The Griffins were forced to foul down the stretch, and the Monarchs went 4-for-6 from the charity stripe to secure the win, 112-103, in their season opener.

It was a balanced team effort for the Monarchs inside the box score, as Rajza led with 27 points on 10-for-23 shooting with seven boards, five assists, and five steals. Morano's career high 27 points was fueled by a 13-for-16 effort at the free throw line, as she added six rebounds and four dimes. Senior Emily Kriston also played well in the opener with 16 points, including 13 in the first half, with five boards and four assists. Coming off the bench to score double figures in her collegiate debut was sophomore Caileigh Costello with 11 points, while Lindsay led the Monarchs in her first college game with 10 rebounds.

Gwynedd Mercy was led by Crossley with a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds, while Elise Sylvester totaled 21 points and seven assists to lead five Griffins in double figures. 

Inside the stat sheet, King's edged Gwynedd Mercy in points off turnovers (32-31), second chance points (18-11), points in the paint (52-42), and fast break points (35-29). The Monarchs also shot an impressive 49.4 percent from the floor in the win, totaling 23 assists on 38 made field goals. King's also won the battle on the boards, grabbing 45 rebounds compared to the Grffins' 42.

King's is back in action for their home opener on Saturday, November 13 at 5:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium as they take on the Wildcats of Penn College in non-conference action.