HOBOKEN, NJ (February 10, 2024) -- The King's College women's basketball team put together three strong quarters at Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon, but a strong fourth-quarter effort from the Ducks saw the Monarchs drop the 65-54 decision in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) contest. The Monarchs fall to 3-20 overall and 0-12 in the conference, while the Ducks improved to 12-11 with a 7-5 conference mark.
 
It was an evenly matched start to the MAC Freedom contest as neither team led by more than two scores. At the end of the first, the score was knotted at 10 a piece. Stevens (12-11, 7-5 MAC Freedom) led by five twice early in the second, but Cadie Lewis, Gianna Dickson, and Layla Orth connected from beyond the arc to put King's (3-20, 0-12 MAC Freedom) ahead, 32-19, with 2:21 left in the quarter. The Ducks kept the game within reach and took a three-point advantage, 27-24, into the locker room thanks to a buzzer-beating triple from Leyla Castro.
 
The first 4:33 of the third quarter went back-and-forth with the score even at 33 a piece before the Ducks strung together four straight points to build their advantage. The Monarchs kept the game within reach as they trailed by just five, 44-39, at the end of the third. Scores from both Lauren Casey and Caileigh Costello closed the deficit to just three, 46-43, with 8:35 remaining, a six-point spurt from Stevens gave the hosts the momentum  needed to close out the game as the Monarchs fell, 65-54, on the road in MAC Freedom play on Saturday afternoon.
 
Dickson led the Monarchs with 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three, adding three rebounds, and two assists, while Brenna Costello posted 11 points, three assists, a block, and a steal. Casey totaled 10 points to go along with five boards, while Caileigh Costello contributed eight points and a team-high tying six rebounds. Additionally, Lewis had a balanced effort of six points, six assists, six caroms, and three steals, while Orth ended the game with five points.
 
Kay Decker had a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds off the bench with two assists, two blocks, and a steal to lead Stevens in the win.
 
The Monarchs had a strong shooting performance, connecting for 21-of-50 from the field (42%), dishing out 13 assists on their 21 field goals, while the defense limited the Ducks to 3-for-10 from beyond the arc in the game. Inside the box score, King's had the edge in points off turnovers (16-15) and fast break points (7-4).
 
King's will return to McGrane Gymnasium on Tuesday evening as they host the visiting Lebanon Valley College at 7:00 p.m. in MAC Freedom play. The Monarchs will also be honoring their campers with the Camper Appreciation and National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD).