WILLIAMSPORT, PA (December 18, 2021) -- On a rainy Saturday afternoon, the King's College women's basketball team dropped their Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) contest on the road at Lycoming College, 50-45.

King's (6-4, 2-1 MAC Freedom) started the game strong as senior Emily Kriston hit back-to-back threes to spark a 10-2 start for the Monarchs. Both offenses stalled to end the quarter with the Monarchs ahead, 13-8.

Lycoming (3-7, 2-1 MAC Freedom) chipped away at the King's lead, inching within two, 18-16, on a pair of free throws from Mya Wetzel with 3:54 left. Each team traded possessions down the stretch as King's held the 23-21 advantage at the break.

The Warriors came out of the break firing as they scored the first six points of the second half to take their first lead since the opening possession of the game with 7:00 left in the third. There were four lead changes and three ties to end the quarter with the host Lycoming on top, 33-32.

The Monarchs led by one, 40-39, on a jumper from senior Samantha Rajza with 5:42 to play, but King's struggled offensively down the stretch as the hosts scored the next six points. King's had one last shot to take the lead after a made free throw from junior Emily Morano with 57 ticks left, trailing by one, but a Wetzel layup with 38 seconds and a missed three from the Monarchs forced King's to foul. Emily Zoscin hit both on the other end to hand the Monarchs their first MAC Freedom loss, 50-45.

Morano led the King's offense with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting, adding a team-high tying six rebounds and two steals. Rajza totaled 14 points with six boards, while Kriston contributed 10 points, four rebounds, and team highs of three assists and four steals.

Allison Butler led Lycoming with a game-high 17 points, while Zoscin totaled a game-high 11 rebounds with nine points and three assists.

King's dished out 11 assists on its 18 made baskets, and despite a tough shooting day, the Monarchs defense held Lycoming to one three-point field goal on 10 percent (1-10) shooting. They also forced 22 Warriors turnovers, collecting 12 steals. The Monarchs also held the advantage inside the box score in points off turnovers (15-6), second chance points (7-2), and fast break points (10-4).

The Monarchs are off for the holiday break and will be back in action in a non-conference contest against Moravian University on December 28 at 4:30 p.m. at Pottsville Area's Martz Hall.