WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 9, 2024) -- Cadie Lewis and Gianna Dickson both finished in double figures to lead the King's College women's basketball team to a 56-52 win over the visiting Penn State Schuylkill on Saturday afternoon in McGrane Gymnasium. With the win in their season opener, the Monarchs start 1-0, while the Nittany Lions drop to 0-1.
 
A slow start saw the Monarchs trailing 5-0 midway through the quarter before Lewis scored six in an 11-0 run by King's (1-0) to jump ahead, 11-5, with 3:20 to go. PSU Schuylkill (0-1) closed within two with 1:18 left, but a layup from Irelynd Long with 55 ticks on the board pushed the Monarchs' edge to 13-9 at the end of the first.
 
The teams traded baskets throughout much of the second, but a jumper from Lewis and  a three from Long in the final 1:05 of the frame capped off a 19-10 quarter and put King's ahead, 32-19, heading into the locker room.'
 
Despite the Nittany Lions keeping it close early, the Monarchs utilized an 8-0 run to build their largest lead of the contest, 44-27, with 4:00 minutes left in the third. A back-and-forth effort ensued before King's held on to a 48-34 advantage heading into the final quarter of action.
 
PSU Schuylkill closed within five down the stretch with the last time coming with 6:48 to go, but a three from Dickson served as the dagger the Monarchs needed to hold off down the stretch in their 56-52 win in their season opener on Saturday afternoon.
 
Lewis began the season with a double-double of 14 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, while Dickson added 11 points with a steal. Orth posted nine points, and Casey contributed nine boards and a block. Long came off the bench to dish out three dimes while collecting five caroms with seven points and two steals.
 
Tajae Stevenson led PSU Schuylkill with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Allison Crockett dished out four helpers.
 
King's handed out 12 assists on their 19 field goals while collecting seven steals on 10 Nittany Lions turnovers. The Monarchs limited PSU Schuylkill to 31.3% shooting from the floor, including 15% (3-for-20) from three. Inside the box core, the King's bench outscored their foes, 12-2.
 
The Monarchs will open up a three-game road stretch on Wednesday, November 13 as they travel to Penn State Harrisburg at 6:00 p.m.