WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 29, 2023) -- In a tough mid-week match up against an undefeated Widener University team, the King's College women's basketball team battled for 40 minutes before falling, 66-59, in the non-conference match up in McGrane Gymnasium on Wednesday night. The Monarchs drop to 2-5 overall, while the Pride improve to 7-0.
 
It was a defensive first quarter that saw the two teams combined for seven field goals in the opening 10 minutes of action. Neither team led by more than two possessions before a three from Layla Orth brought the Monarchs within one, 9-8, at the end of the period.
 
King's (2-5) opened the second with five unanswered points from Orth and Gianna Dickson before the teams traded scores in their next few possessions. A pair of free throws from Deanna Wallace, a triple from Kathy Shepherd, and a free throw from Caileigh Costello gave the Monarchs their largest lead of the game, 20-14, with 5:57 remaining in the half. Widener (7-0) battled back, and after a tie and two lead changes, King's regained the lead, 27-24, heading into the locker room thanks to five points in the final 57 seconds from Orth.
 
The Pride came out firing to start the third, leading by as many as 16 points before the Monarchs faced the 52-37 deficit entering the final period of the contest.
 
A three from Dickson to start the fourth followed by two free throws from Brandy Varner saw the Widener edge diminish to just 10 points, 52-42, with 8:21 to play, but the Pride would keep King's at bay until the thrilling final 60 seconds of the match up.
 
Trialing by 10 with 1:19 to go, Dickson exploded for another five tallies on a steal and score and two successful attempts from the charity stripe to pull the Monarchs within 63-55 with 48 seconds left. Widener struggled from the line, connecting for just 3-for-6 to give King's opportunities to extend the game. A point from Brenna Costello and a great three in the corner from Cadie Lewis pulled the Monarchs within six, 65-59, but Widener managed to hit one of two in the final seven seconds as King's fell, 66-59, in the gritty non-conference match up on Wednesday night.
 
Dickson led the offense with 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting, connecting for two triples and adding two steals, while Brenna Costello added 11 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Orth had a great shooting night, coming off the bench to post 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting with two threes, adding a team-high tying three assists, while Lewis totaled five boards and three assists. Shepherd contributed six points off the pines, while Rowan Murray collected a team-high seven caroms while handing out three helpers. Additionally, Varner was extremely efficient, grabbing four boards and tallying four points in just five minutes of play.
 
Jordan D'Ambrosio led all scorers with 21 points, connecting for 8-of-11 from the field, with three assists, while both Lindsay Kutz and Mary McFillin grabbed seven rebounds a piece, with McFillin blocking four shots and grabbing two steals.
 
King's shot 31.3% from the floor while assisting on 13 of their 20 baskets and adding eight three's on a 38.1% shooting effort from beyond the arc. The Monarchs were slightly edged on the boards, 40-34, but the defense forced 15 Pride turnovers and limited the visitors to 4-of-11 from three-point range. Inside the box score, King's had the advantage in second-chance points (12-9) and bench points (22-4) in the contest.
 
The Monarchs will set their sights on their final match up before the finals-week break, making the short trip up to Scranton, Pa. to take on Marywood University. Tip off in the non-conference match up is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.