DOYLESTOWN, PA (February 7, 2024) -- The King's College women's basketball team came out to a slow start but responded and battle back before ultimately falling, 66-46, at Delaware Valley University on Wednesday night in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play. The Monarchs stand at 3-19 overall and 0-11 in the standings, while the Aggies improved to 16-6 and 6-4 in the MAC Freedom.
 
The Monarchs came out to a slow start and could not match a hot shooting first quarter from Delaware Valley (16-6, 6-4 MAC Freedom) and faced a 19-7 deficit at the end of the first. King's (3-19, 0-11 MAC Freedom) came out firing in the second quarter, shooting 46.2% from the field and out scoring the Aggies 15-8. Delaware Valley continued their momentum with a 6-2 run to start the quarter, but a three-point play from Brenna Costello sparked a 12-0 rally by the Monarchs as they closed within four, 25-21, with 1:38 to go before the half. Each team got on the scoreboard in the final 54 seconds as King's trailed by just five, 27-22, at the break.
 
King's continued to fight through the second half in their road conference contest and would not allow their opponent to run away with the game. The Aggies went ahead by double digits early in the third, but the Monarchs chipped away and kept the game within reach as Delaware Valley had a 46-35 edge at the end of the frame. A jumper from Gianna Dickson saw King's trailing 48-37 with 8:14 remaining, but the hot shooting Aggie offense maintained control down the stretch as King's fell, 66-46, on the road in MAC Freedom play on Wednesday night.
 
Kathy Shepherd led the Monarchs with 14 points off the bench, connecting for 5-of-9 from the field and 4-for-7 from three, with four rebounds, two steals, and an assist, while Rowan Murray put up nine points to go along with three boards and a team-high three helpers. Both Brenna and Caileigh Costello recorded seven points, with Brenna Costello adding two steals and two blocks, and Dickson grabbed a team-high tying four rebounds with five points.
 
Haley Keenan led all scorers with 20 points, adding seven rebounds, six steals, and five assists in 39 minutes of action, while Maisie Neuber had a double-double of 15 points and 12 boards.
 
The Monarchs had a strong outing from beyond the arc, connecting for 41.7% of their attempts from three, while the defensive effort forced 24 Aggies miscues. Inside the box score, the King's bench out scored Delaware Valley's by a dominant 25-5 effort.
 
King's will extend their road stretch on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Hoboken, N.J. to take on Stevens Institute of Technology in MAC Freedom play. Game one of the conference doubleheader will begin at 1:00 p.m.