WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 5, 2022) -- The King's College women's basketball team was handed their first home loss of the 2021-22 season on Wednesday night as the Monarchs dropped a 59-51 contest to the visiting Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play. The Monarchs drop to 8-5 overall, 2-2 in MAC Freedom competition, while the Ducks improve to 9-2 overall and 3-1 against conference opponents.

King's (8-5, 2-2 MAC Freedom) got on the board first with a put back from senior Emily Kriston before the teams traded baskets with the Monarchs ahead, 6-2. A 9-2 spurt from Stevens (9-2, 3-1 MAC Freedom) gave the visitors the lead, 13-8, with 5:45 left in the opening quarter, but the Monarchs answered to tie the quarter at 13, with 3:53 to go before trailing, 19-15, at the end of the first.

The Monarchs outscored the Ducks, 13-6, in the second. A pair of free throws from Kriston tied the game again at 23 with 4:16 to play until the break, and a 5-2 run from the hosts put King's ahead, 28-25, at halftime.

Stevens came out of the break strong, building a seven-point advantage, 38-31, at the 6:04 mark of the third quarter. Back-to-back threes by Kriston to end the third saw the Monarchs leading 44-42 heading into the final quarter of play.

Two baskets from junior Sarah Heiskell-Mann gave King's a six-point lead, 46-42, with 7:50 left on the game clock, but the Ducks answered as they chipped away at the Monarchs lead, tying the game at 50 a piece with 5:51 to play. King's trailed, 52-51, after a made free throw from Kriston, and a handful of empty possessions saw 2:09 left, forcing the Monarchs to foul. Stevens went 7-for-10 from the charity stripe down the stretch, and King's was not able to convert on its offensive possessions as the Monarchs fell, 59-51, at home in MAC Freedom play.

Kriston led the Monarchs with a season-high 17 points, adding a team-high seven rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Kiersten Krouse tallied a season-best 13 points with three threes, collecting four boards, dishing out two assists, and snagging a team-high two steals. First year Alli Lindsay totaled nine points with seven caroms, while sophomore Caileigh Costello dished out three assists while contributing six points and four boards.

Allie Moss led Stevens with a game-high 18 points, while Jess Broad added a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds with three assists and three blocks.

The Monarchs dished out 12 assists on their 19 field goals while forcing 12 Ducks turnovers. King's defense also held Stevens to 25 percent shooting (5-20) from beyond the arc.

King's is on the road on Saturday in MAC Freedom play as the Monarchs take on the Devils of FDU-Florham in Madison, NJ at 1:00 p.m.