WILKES-BARRE, PA (February 23, 2022) -- Senior Samantha Rajza put on a clinic for arguably the best crowd in McGrane Gymnasium on Wednesday night as she recorded a career-high 39 points in the King's College women's basketball team's 74-67 victory over the sixth-seed Arcadia University in the MAC Freedom Quarterfinals.

The Monarchs improve to 17-8 overall for the 2021-22 season and advance to the MAC Freedom Semifinals on Friday night. King's will travel to Hoboken, NJ to take on the two-seed Stevens Institute of Technology with a time to be determined.

King's had a sluggish start to the game as Arcadia (7-17) jumped out to a 9-0 lead with 5:30 to go in the opening quarter. King's (17-8) outscored the Knights 11-3 in the final 3:58 of the quarter to trail, 12-11, at the end of the first. The Monarchs took their first lead of the game, 16-15, with 7:45 to play in the half off a three from first year Alli Lindsay before a back-and-forth end to the half saw the Monarchs ahead, 32-25, into the break.

A three-point play from graduate student Zoe Stein fired up the King's offense to start the second half as the hosts built a 14-point advantage off a steal and score from Rajza with 5:15 to play in the third. The Knights hung tough throughout the third before posting the 57-47 score after three quarters of play. A 13-6 Knights rally to start the fourth saw the King's lead down to just three, 63-60, with 4:22 to play.

Senior Emily Kriston hit a big three on a good offensive possession before Rajza hit two at the charity stripe to lead by eight, 68-60, with 3:32 remaining. Arcadia got on the board again with 2:29 to play before Lindsay answered on the next trip down to lead 70-62. Another quick Knights basket kept them in the game before putting Rajza on the line where she hit both. Out of the Arcadia timeout, Rajza came up big defensively with a steal and finish with 18 ticks to go, and a last-second three from Arcadia would not be enough as the Monarchs earned the 74-67 win in the MAC Freedom Quarterfinals on Wednesday night in McGrane Gymnasium.

Rajza's career-night came on 13-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, adding three assists and three steals. Kriston also totaled double figures with 11 points, adding another well-rounded night with seven boards, five assists, and four steals. Sophomore Caileigh Costello picked up seven points with four boards, while junior Sarah Heiskell-Mann dished out three assists with three caroms. Additionally, Lindsay came off the bench as an offensive spark with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting with three boards and two assists.

Julia Makowski led Arcadia with 24 points, four assists, and two blocks, while Scarlett Glasser-Nehls added 20 points and four assists. Additionally, Mara Weaver and Sidney Barrer collected eight rebounds each.

King's shot 45.6 percent (26-57) from the floor for the game, dishing out 15 assists on 26 baskets. The Monarchs defense was solid as it forced 16 turnovers and collected four steals while breaking even on the boards, 28-28, with the visitors.

Inside the box score, King's edged Arcadia in points off turnovers (16-15), bench points (14-9), and fast break points (11-6).

The Monarchs will head out to Canavan Arena on Friday night to take on the #2 seed in Stevens with time to be announced in the MAC Freedom Semifinals.