HOBOKEN, NJ (February 5, 2022) -- In a defensive battle that played out until the final buzzer, third quarter offensive struggles by the King's College women's basketball team doomed the Monarchs in a 65-58 loss to the host Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon. King's breaks a five-game win streak as they fall to 13-7 overall, 8-4 in MAC Freedom play, while the Ducks improve to 15-3 for the season and 10-2 against MAC Freedom opponents.

King's (13-7, 8-4 MAC Freedom) dominated early as they stormed out to an 11-0 lead with 3:38 to play in the opening quarter, but a 7-1 run by Stevens (15-3, 10-2 MAC Freedom) to end the quarter saw King's ahead, 12-7. The Ducks battled back to tie the game at 15 halfway through the second before a 9-3 Monarchs run buit a solid lead before going into the halftime break ahead, 26-24.

It was a back-and-forth bout throughout the third with neither team leading by more than four points, but a three from Allie Moss of Stevens gave the hosts a seven-point advantage, 46-39, heading into the final quarter of play. The Monarchs chipped away at the lead and tied the game at 52 with 2:21 to play off a jumper from junior Emily Morano. King's hit their opportunities down the stretch but were forced to put Stevens on the line where the Ducks went 11-for-14 in the final 1:22 to secure the win, 65-58.

Senior Samantha Rajza totaled 15 points and eight rebounds with three blocks and a steal to inch within two points of 1,000 for her career. Morano matched her offensive efforts with 15 points and a team-high nine boards with two steals, while senior Emily Kriston added 14 points, including 12 in the first half, adding team-highs with three assists and four steals. Additionally, junior Sarah Heiskell-Mann and first year Alli Lindsay had mirroring seven points and five carrom efforts in the loss.

Stevens was led by Jess Broad with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds with three steals to lead four in double figures in the win.

King's shot 37.1 percent (23-62) in the loss while holding Stevens to 34.9 percent (22-63). The Monarchs defense also forced 16 Ducks turnovers while collecting seven steals. King's held the advantage inside the stat sheet in points off turnovers (23-9).

The Monarchs return home in MAC Freedom play on Wednesday evening as they host top-ranked DeSales in McGrane Gymnasium with a 6:00 p.m. tip off. King's will also finish their collections as part of the True Love Movement to help support the Wilkes-Barre Freedom Fighters.