DALLAS, PA (January 26, 2022) -- The King's College women's basketball team outscored the host Misericordia University 33-18 in the first half, holding the Cougars to just eight second-quarter points, as they outlasted the comeback in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) win, 63-55, on Wednesday night. The Monarchs improve to 11-6 overall and 6-3 in the MAC Freedom standings, while the Cougars drop to 10-8 overall and 5-5 in MAC Freedom play to start the second half of the MAC Freedom schedule.

King's (11-6, 6-3 MAC Freedom) got a bookend pair of threes from senior Samantha Rajza to start and end the opening quarter as the Monarchs held a 19-10 lead over the host Cougars. The Monarchs continued to shine offensively in the second, leading by as much as 21, 33-12, with 6:48 to go in the half, while the defense held Misericordia (10-8, 5-5 MAC Freedom) to just one field goal in the first 6:17 of the quarter before posting the 33-18 halftime score.

An almost even third quarter that saw the Monarchs with the edge, 13-12, for the quarter, as the Cougars stayed within 20 points throughout the quarter with King's ahead 46-30, after three quarters of play. After trading threes to start the fourth, Misericordia went on a 15-5 run that pulled the hosts within six, 54-48, with 1:24 remaining. King's held off a late spurt by the Cougars and went 9-for-12 from the charity stripe in the final 1:18 of play to secure the 63-55 MAC Freedom win.

Junior Emily Morano led all scorers with 18 points, adding five rebounds, three assists, and a block. The senior duo of Samantha Rajza and Emily Kriston recorded 15 points each, with Kriston filled the stat sheet, hitting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and pulling down a team-best eight boards with five steals and four assists. Additionally, sophomore Kiersten Krouse dished out a team-high five assists with six points.

The Cougars were led by Alyssa Bondi with 13 points, while Gianna Delfino recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds with four blocks.

The Monarchs defense held the Cougars to just 20 percent (5-25) from beyond the arc, forcing 21 turnovers and collecting nine steals. King's shot a solid 42.3 percent (11-26) from three and totaled 15 assists on 20 field goals. Inside the box score, the Monarchs held the advantage in points from turnovers (23-11 and fast break points (13-11).

King's returns to McGrane Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon for Alumni Appreciation Day as they host Delaware Valley University in MAC Freedom play with a 1:00 p.m. tip off.