HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (December 4, 2024) -- Despite holding a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, the King's College women's basketball team could not hold on at Centenary University on Wednesday night as they fell, 68-45. The Monarchs drop to 3-4 overall, while the Cyclones improved to 6-3.
 
Six different Monarchs scored in the opening quarter to give King's (3-4) the early edge. Leading by just four with 1:46 to go in the frame, Layla Orth went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the final 1:15 to put the Monarchs ahead, 17-13, heading into the second.
 
Centenary (6-3) opened the second on a 6-0 run to retake the lead, 19-17, with 6:53 left, before the teams traded baskets. The game featured three lead changes with neither team leading by more than a score before the Cyclones converted a bucket with 38 seconds remaining to take a 33-27 halftime lead over King's.
 
The host Centenary found their momentum out of the break, and despite some fighting efforts by the Monarchs their comeback fell shy in a 68-45 setback on Wednesday night.
 
Lauren Casey led the team with 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting with eight rebounds and a block, while Orth added nine points and two steals. Cadie Lewis tacked on seven points, six rebounds, and four assists, and Juleesah Hines handed out three helpers.
 
The Cyclones were paced by Vatijah Davis with 22 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.
 
King's shot 34.9% from the floor for the game, handing out eight assists on their 15 field goals. The defense forced 11 Cyclones miscues and limited the hosts to just 18.2% (2-for-11) from beyond the arc. Additionally, the Monarch bench outscored Centenary, 19-12.
 
The Monarchs will return home to host Stevenson University on Saturday in McGrane Gymnasium at 2:00 p.m.