DOYLESTOWN, PA (January 22, 2025) -- The King's College women's basketball team closed within six late, but Delaware Valley University hung on as the Monarchs fell, 58-45, on Wednesday night in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play. With the loss on the road, the Monarchs fall to 6-10 overall and 2-3 in the conference, while the Aggies improve to 3-13 with a 1-4 MAC Freedom mark.
 
The Aggies got on the board first with a layup with 8:45 remaining before Lauren Casey scored the next five points for the Monarchs to take a 5-2 edge with 7:12 to go. The game went back-and-forth before a three from Cadie Lewis and another bucket from Casey gave King's (6-10, 2-3 MAC Freedom) the 14-13 edge at the end of the first.
 
The game went cold over the first 1:17 of the second before Delaware Valley (3-13, 1-4 MAC Freedom) got the scoring started. Ahead by one, 16-15, with 8:34 to play in the half, the Aggies went on a 9-0 run to take a 24-16 lead with 3:55 left. A layup from Claire Aufiero and a three from Gianna Dickson cut the deficit to 24-21, but the Aggies responded with a bucket with 2:43 remaining in the second. Both teams struggled down the stretch as the Monarchs continued to trail 26-21, at halftime.
 
Dickson drained two more triples as part of a 10-2 Monarch run to start the third and jump ahead, 31-28, with 6:30 left in the quarter. The Aggies responded with a 15-2 rally to end the frame as King's faced a 43-33 deficit heading into the final quarter of play.
 
A three from Kathy Shepherd and a pair of baskets from Casey made it a five-point game, 45-40, with 7:33 left in the contest. Delaware Valley scored the next four, but Dickson answered with a three with 3:39 to play, trialing 49-43. It was all Aggies down the stretch as the hosts went 7-for-8 from the charity stripe to hand King's the 58-45 setback in MAC Freedom play.
 
Casey led the Monarchs with 15 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and a steal, while Dickson finished with 12 points and five boards. Lewis packed the stat sheet with five points, five boards, five assists, and four steals, while Alli Lindsay dished out six helpers with two steals. Aufiero was a spark off the bench with six points, five rebounds, and a block.
 
Ciana Feliciano paced Delaware Valley with 19 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, and two assists, while Haley Keenan added 13 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
 
The Monarchs finished with 14 assists on their 18 fields goals and collected 11 steals. They limited the Aggies to just 20.0% (3-15) from beyond the arc while forcing 21 Delaware Valley turnovers. Inside the box score, King's had the edge in bench points, 9-2.
 
King's will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon as they host Misericordia University in MAC Freedom play at 1:00 p.m. in McGrane Gymnasium.