HOBOKEN, NJ (January 18, 2025) -- The King's College women's basketball team came out to a slow start on Saturday afternoon in an 83-57 setback at Stevens Institute of Technology in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play. With the loss, the Monarchs drop to 6-9 overall and 2-2 in the conference standings, while the Ducks improve to 9-6 with a 3-1 MAC Freedom mark.
 
It was a competitive start to the game as there were four lead changes with King's (6-9, 2-2 MAC Freedom) on top, 10-6, with 6:35 remaining in the quarter. Stevens (9-6, 3-1 MAC Freedom) got hot, opening the scoring with a 16-2 run to end the first ahead, 22-12.
 
Both teams struggled early in the second before Leyla Castro connected for a pair from the charity stripe with 8:02 left in the half. After trading scores, the Monarchs closed within 29-18 with 4:42 to go, but the Ducks went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line to maintain a 39-27 edge heading into the locker room.
 
Out of the break, King's seemed to find some momentum as layups from Juleesah Hines and Alli Lindsay cut the deficit to nine with 8:55 to play in the third. The Monarchs went cold from the floor as Stevens increased their edge, but four points from Gianna Dickson and five from Claire Aufiero in the final 1:30 of the frame brought King's within 62-46 at the end of the third.
 
The game went back-and-forth to start the final quarter, but Stevens never let up as the Monarchs fell, 83-57, in their MAC Freedom match up on Saturday afternoon.
 
Dickson paced the offense with 14 points, while Cadie Lewis totaled 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a block. Lauren Casey added eight point and six rebounds, and Hines posted six points and six boards. Lindsay filled the stat sheet with seven assists, five points, four steals, and a rebound, and Aufiero rounded out the top scorers with eight points and two steals off the bench.
 
Castro led five in double figures for Stevens with 17 points, seven assists, six rebounds, four steals, and a block.
 
King's shot 33.9% from the floor, handing out 11 assists on their 20 baskets, while the defense forced 18 Ducks turnovers and limited Stevens to 27.3% (3-for-11) from beyond the arc. Additionally, the Monarchs bench outscored their foes, 14-13.
 
The Monarchs will be back on the road on Wednesday night, traveling to Delaware Valley University for a 7:00 p.m. tip off in the MAC Freedom match up.