NOVEMBER 27, 2016

STEEBER AND HOFFMAN SCORE CAREER HIGHS IN OVERTIME LOSS TO MARYWOOD

SCRANTON, PA --- Alexis Steeber and Olivia Hoffman both scored career-highs but the King's College women's basketball team was edged by Marywood University 72-70 in overtime on the second day of the Cross County Challenge at the John Long Center on Sunday in Scranton.

The Lady Monarchs fall to 1-4 while the Pacers improve to 3-2.

King's opened the scoring with a driving layup from Kayla Feairheller but Marywood countered with a 14-2 run to take the largest lead of the game at 14-4 with 4:08 left in the quarter. Shae Grim knocked down two free throws and Rebecca Prociak hit a jumper in the paint to cut the lead to six with just over two minutes remaining. After the teams traded baskets Kayla Dillinger knocked down a three to cut the deficit to 18-15 after the first quarter of play.

Erin Schmidt tied the game with a three to begin the second quarter and then after a Pacer bucket knocked down another three to give the Monarchs a 21-20 lead. Marywood retook the lead on two three-pointers and a jumper to take a 28-21 lead with 4:54 left in the half. The Monarchs were able to bring the Pacer advantage down to two points on one of two free throws by Prociak, two free throws by Grim, and a jumper in the paint by Prociak. After the teams traded buckets the Pacers increased the lead back to seven on a layup and a three-pointer. Feairheller cut the score to 35-30 with a driving layup right before halftime.

The Lady Monarchs had one of their best quarters of the year in the third as they outscored the Pacers 17-14 and shot 63.6 (7-11) percent from the field. Back-to-back scores in the paint by Hoffman and Grim gave King's a 35-34 lead with 8:48 left. The Pacers scored on a jumper before Steeber gave the Monarchs a 38-37 lead with two layups. Marywood used a couple of threes to retake the lead and take a five point lead with three minutes left. A layup by Hoffman, one of two free throws and a layup by Steeber tied the game at 47 for King's. Marywood scored with five seconds left in the quarter to take a two point lead heading into the fourth. In the third quarter alone the Lady Monarchs outscored Marywood 14-2 in the paint.

In the fourth quarter the teams traded baskets for the majority of the quarter. The Monarchs scored all 12 of their points in the paint with Hoffman scoring eight and Steeber scoring four on layups and jumpers right around the basket. King's had a chance to win the game after forcing a turnover with five seconds left but Kasey Seitz's shot from the top of the key rimmed out and Hoffman's put back was off the mark to send the game into overtime.

In overtime the Monarchs took an early 62-61 lead on a made free throw by Prociak and jumper by Feairheller sandwiched around a Pacer bucket. The Pacers nailed a three to take a two point lead but King's responded with a made free throw and a jumper by Hoffman to take a 65-64 lead with 1:56 left in the game. A Pacer jumper in the paint gave them the lead back before Feaiheller knocked down a three for the Monarchs. Marywood hit three out of four free throws to retake a one point lead with 58 seconds left. Hoffman hit a jumper with 31 seconds left to give King's a 70-69 lead but the Pacers were able to score on a layup with 12 seconds left to retake the lead. After a timeout to advance the ball up court and to set up a play the Lady Monarchs got the ball in the hands of Prociak underneath the basketball but her shot was blocked and the Pacers grabbed the rebound and were quickly fouled with 1.8 seconds left. Marywood knocked down one of two free throws and the time ran out before King's was able to get off a shot to tie or win the game.

King's outscored Marywood 46-26 in the paint and 16-10 on second chance points. Olivia Hoffman recorded her third double-double of the year with a career high 18 points and 11 rebounds. She also had five assists, four blocks, and three steals to be named the King's MVP of this year's inaugural Cross County Challenge. Alexis Steeber had a career high 17 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks. Kayla Feairheller and Rebecca Prociak scored 10 points each for the Lady Monarchs.

King's shot a season-best 41.8 (28-67) percent from the field and outrebounded the Pacers 46-44.

The Pacers were led by Gab Giordano with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Natasha Hessling had 17 points and seven rebounds while Caitie Nealon scored 15 points.

King's will return to the hardwood on Tuesday when they travel to Selinsgrove to face Susquehanna University at 7:00 p.m.