CENTER VALLEY, PA (January 12, 2022) -- The King's College women's basketball team trailed by just nine points heading into the final quarter of play before a fourth-quarter rally by the host DeSales University handed the Monarchs the 71-56 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) loss on Wednesday night.

King's (8-6, 3-3 MAC Freedom) battled through the opening quarter of play before DeSales (8-3, 6-0) built a 11-point advantage, 25-14, to end the first. Back-to-back threes from the junior pair of Cailin Wilson and Emily Morano pulled the Monarchs within seven, 27-20, with 7:40 to go in the half, but the Bulldogs responded to regain their double-digit lead. A nice finish from graduate student Zoe Stein off an inbounds play inched King's within nine, 39-30, into the halftime break.

The Monarchs closed within seven again, 39-32, on a pair of free throws from sophomore Kiersten Krouse at the 8:40 mark of the third quarter, but the Bulldogs answered with a 6-0 run. DeSales led by 15, 50-35, with 1:35 to go before a three-point play from Morano and a three from first year Alli Lindsay ended the quarter down by nine, 50-41.

The visitors battled their way back within eight on a jumper from Morano with 2:06 to play, but the Monarchs fouled to put the Bulldogs on the line down the stretch where they went 6-for-6 to hand King's the 71-56 loss on the road in MAC Freedom play.

Morano led all scorers with 23 points, adding four rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. Lindsay came off the bench as the other Monarch in double figures with 14 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the floor, with a team-high six boards. Senior Emily Kriston dished out a team-best three assists, while Krouse collected five rebounds.


Averi Jordan led DeSales with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Mikaela Reese and Megan Bealer added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Monarchs defense forced 17 Bulldogs turnovers, collecting seven steals, while holding DeSales to 27.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc. King's also shared the ball well, totaling 15 helpers on 20 made field goals. Additionally, the Monarch's bench outscored the Bulldog's bench, 17-13.

King's will return home for a MAC Freedom contest against Arcadia University on Saturday, January 15 at 1:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.