WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 31, 2024) -- The King's College women's basketball team came out in full force on Wednesday night in McGrane Gymnasium, taking a 17-8 lead over #17/#18 DeSales University in the first quarter before ultimately falling, 61-37, in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play. The Monarchs drop to 3-17 overall and 0-9 in the conference, while the Bulldogs improve to 18-2 and remain undefeated in the standings at 9-0.
 
Brenna Costello helped set the tone defensively in the opening quarter, blocking a Bulldog shot on the second possession that turned into a layup from Lauren Casey to put King's (3-17, 0-9 MAC Freedom) ahead early. DeSales (18-2, 9-0 MAC Freedom) scored the next four, but the Monarchs responded with five points from Brenna Costello. The team's traded baskets before a defensive effort that held the Bulldogs scoreless over the final 5:15, in addition to a strong offensive spurt featuring a jumper from Gianna Dickson, a tally from Brenna Costello, a layup from Rowan Murray, and a three-point play from Cadie Lewis put King's up, 17-8, after the opening 10 minutes of action.
 
A three off the bench from Morgan Sterner tied the game at 19 a piece with 5:08 to go in the half before DeSales scored the next seven to hold a 26-19 advantage over the Monarchs. Murray scored two more buckets, and Dickson laid one in right before the buzzer to keep the game within reach, trialing 30-25 at the halftime break.
 
DeSales shifted the momentum in the third quarter, dominating the frame to lead King's 46-25 heading into the final 10 minutes of play. The Bulldogs lead swelled to 24 points, 51-27, but the Monarchs cut the deficit to 54-35 behind a 7-3 rally with 3:50 left on the game clock. DeSales would hit three more baskets in the game to just one from the Monarchs, and neither team connected from the field in the final 1:58 of action as King's fell, 61-37, in a nationally ranked battle in McGrane Gymnasium on Wednesday night.
 
Murray set a new career-high with 10 points, going 5-for-7 from the field, while Casey added 10 rebounds with eight points, two steals, and a block. Brenna Costello posted six points with two blocks and a steal, while Lewis and Layla Orth handed out two assists a piece.
 
DeSales was led by Lindsey Welsh with 20 points, while Mikaela Reese had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with a team-high five assists and three blocks.
 
King's had a strong defensive night, limiting DeSales to 35.4% shooting from the field and just 25.9% from beyond the arc and forcing 12 Bulldogs turnovers. Inside the box score, the Monarchs had the edge in both bench points (14-6) and points in the paint (28-26).
 
The Monarchs will continue their home stand on Saturday afternoon as they host Arcadia University in MAC Freedom action at 1:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.