MIDDLETOWN, PA (November 13, 2024) -- The King's College women's basketball team dropped their first road contest of the 2024-25 season on Wednesday night, falling 78-53 at Penn State Harrisburg. The Monarchs fall to 1-1 overall, while the Nittany Lions open their season 1-0.
 
A sluggish start saw the Monarchs trailing by 10 with 2:09 to go in the first, but King's (1-1) went to the paint to finish the quarter on an 8-0 run, including four points each from Claire Aufiero and Gianna Dickson, to close within a bucket, 17-15, at the end of the frame. The host Penn State Harrisburg (1-0) rallied, rattling off the fist 11 points of the second. King's battled until the break but faced a 40-25 deficit at the half.
 
After a Nittany Lions three to start the third, the Monarchs scored four straight on a pair of free throws from Layla Orth and a layup from Lauren Casey. The teams traded scores throughout the remainder of the quarter with PSU Harrisburg on top, 58-43, heading into the final quarter of play. The Monarchs hung tough early, but a late scoring drought prevented comeback efforts as King's dropped their first contest of the season, 78-53, on the road on Wednesday night.
 
Casey led the offense with 14 points, adding six boards, two steals, and a block, while Cadie Lewis posted nine points, three assists, three steals, and two boards. Aufiero played well in her collegiate debut, coming off the bench to score eight with three boards and two dimes, while Alli Lindsay dished out a team-best six helpers with a pair of threes. Additionally, Juleesah Hines collected six rebounds with four points, two assists, and a steal.
 
Jordan Carpenter paced PSU Harrisburg, tallying 29 points, nine boards, five steals, two blocks, and two assists, while Ali Lister flirted with a triple double with 10 assists, nine rebounds, and nine points.
 
King's shot 38.6% from the floor, handing out 16 assists on their 22 field goals. The defense forced 17 Nittany Lions miscues, collecting 10 steals, while forcing the hosts to shot just 26.3% from beyond the arc.
 
The Monarchs will set their sights on their second road game of the season, taking on Lycoming College on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. in Williamsport, Pa.