WILKES-BARRE, PA (December 3, 2022) -- After battling through the first three quarters of play, the King's College women's basketball team saw a late surge from the visiting Delaware Valley in the fourth quarter as the Monarchs fell, 58-51, in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) contest in McGrane Gymnasium. The Monarchs now drop to 1-8 overall and 0-3 in MAC Freedom play, while the Aggies improved to 3-4 with a 1-1 mark in the conference.
 
After trading baskets early to see the game tied at 5-5 with 6:56 left in the opening quarter, Delaware Valley (3-4, 1-1 MAC Freedom) would go on an 8-3 run over the final minutes of the first to hold a 13-10 advantage over the Monarchs. An evenly contested second quarter saw both teams put up 11 points and head into the break with King's (1-8, 0-3 MAC Freedom) trailing by three, 24-21.
 
The Monarchs controlled much of the third quarter as they out scored the Aggies, 16-11, in the span. The visitors would score the first four points before King's closed the period on a 16-5 run to lead, 37-35, heading into the final stanza. The teams went toe-to-toe over the early minutes of the quarter before Delaware Valley built a six-point advantage, 45-39, off a pair of free throws from Alexis Wright with 4:42 left in the game.
 
King's would battle back to regain the lead, 48-47, off a set of free throws from sophomore Lauren Casey with 2:01 to go, but the Aggies would score five unanswered points to rebuild their advantage with 39 ticks left on the game clock. Sophomore Alli Lindsay would tack on a free throw, and senior Sarah Heiskell-Mann would grab her own offensive rebound and lay it in with 22 seconds to play, but their efforts were just short as the Monarchs fell, 58-51, in the MAC Freedom contest in McGrane Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
First year Kathy Shepherd led the Monarchs with a team-high 13 points, adding five boards off the bench, while Casey posted nine points, a team-high six rebounds, and two steals. Cailin Wilson matched that effort with nine points, four caroms, two assists, and two steals. Additionally, Kiersten Krouse collected four boards with seven points and two assists, while Caileigh Costello totaled a team-high three assists.
 
Haley Keenan poured in a game-high 17 points, adding three steals and five rebounds, while Sophie Cherves collected team-highs of eight boards and five steals.
 
As a team, the Monarchs dished out 10 assists on 17 made field goals and forced 18 Aggies turnovers. King's also held Delaware Valley to just 8.3 percent (1-12) shooting from beyond the arc. Inside the box score, King's held the advantage in points from the bench, 23-13.
 
King's will be off for the finals-week break before returning to McGrane Gymnasium on Saturday, December 10. The Monarchs will host Arcadia University in the MAC Freedom contest set for a 1:00 p.m. start.