DECEMBER 21, 2015
KING'S WOMEN USE BIG SECOND HALF TO DEFEAT WESTERN CONNECTICUT 79-69
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA -- The Monarchs College women's basketball team placed six players in double-figure scoring and outscore Western Connecticut State University 46-29 in the second half to post a 79-69 victory on the final day of the Daytona Beach Shootout Monday in Daytona Beach , Fla.
With the win King's improved to 8-2 while Western Connecticut slipped to 6-4.
After training 40-33 at the half King's came out of the locker room and went to work in the third quarter. A pair of foul shots by Rachael DeTore and an inside bucket from Tara Zdancewicz cut the lead to 40-37 with 8:40 on the clock. After King's forced a turnover Sara Krupinski was fouled driving to the basket and made both free throws to bring King's to within 40-39. After a Western Colonial miss, Krupinski canned a short jumper to give the Lady Monarchs a 41-40 lead, its first of the game.
Three sraight baskets by DeTore, Zdancewicz, and Erin Schmidt gave King's a 47-40 lead with 4:46 left in the period. Later, Shae Grim made one-of-two foul shots and added a bucket as the King's took a 55-46 lead. Jancy Sherwood made a three-pointer for WestConn at the buzzer to cut the score to 55-49 heading into the fourth quarter. In all, King's outscored Western Connecticut 22-9 in the third period.
In the fourth quarter King's stretched the lead to 11 points after a free throw from Alexis Steeber and a bucket and foul shot by DeTore to push the score to 63-52 with 5:27 remaining.
After Jennifer Fabian hit an inside basket for King's to push the lead to 69-58 with 2:52 to go, Western Connecticut began to foul. Olivia Hoffman, Krupinski and DeTore combined to make five of the next six foul shots for King's to maintain a 74-63 lead at the 4:48 mark. Hoffman was then fouled making a layup and added the free throw with 0:26 left and Grim added two more free throws with 0:06 remaining to push the score to 79-66. WestConn added a three pointer with 0:02 left to set the final score.
DeTore scored a career-high 15 points with three rebounds while Zdancewicz added 14 points and nine boards. Hoffman followed with 11 points and five rebounds while Grim, Krupinski, and Fabian contributed 10 points each.
King's shot 48 (30-62) percent from the floor and 78.3 (18-23) from the foul line.
Sherwood led the Colonials with 20 points while Emily Dobson added 12 points.
King's returns to the court December 29-30 at the Fairfield Inn Holiday Tournament at Catholic University in Washington D.C.