JANUARY 21, 2017

FOUR PLAYERS SCORE IN DOUBLE FIGURES IN HIGHEST SCORING OUTPUT OF THE SEASON

WILKES-BARRE, PA --- Four players scored in double figures to lead the King's College women's basketball team to a 71-61 victory over Wilkes University 71-61 on Saturday afternoon at McGrane Gymnasium in Wilkes-Barre.

The Monarchs, who entered the game averaging 53.3 points per game, improve to 3-13 overall and 1-5 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play. Wilkes falls to 4-12 overall and 0-6 in the conference.

King's fell behind early as the Colonels took a 10-6 with 5:26 remaining in the first quarter. That however would be their largest lead of the game and their last. Alexis Steeber scored on a layup and after a turnover by Wilkes Olivia Hoffman knocked down two free throws to tie the game. The Monarchs took the lead on their next offensive possession when Erin Schmidt found Kayla Dillinger open for a three pointer. After forcing another Colonel turnover, Schmidt found Hoffman on the left side for a short jumper to increase the lead to 15-10 with three minutes left in the quarter. The Colonels responded with a 6-2 run to cut the lead to one point with 1:21 on the clock but the Monarchs received a three-pointer from Schmidt off an assist from Hoffman to take a 20-16 lead into the second quarter.

After Wilkes knocked down one of two free throws to begin the quarter the Monarchs started to expand their lead with a 8-1 run to take a 28-19 lead with six minutes left in the half. The run was capped off when Hoffman blocked a jumper on the defensive end, grabbed the rebound and found Steeber up the court, who then passed it to Rebecca Prociak for a fast break layup.  Wilkes was able to cut the lead back down to six points at 34-28 with 1:17 remaining in the half. Maggie Michael increased the lead back up to nine with her first career three-pointer off an assist from Kayla Feairheller. The Colonels knocked down a three right before the half ended to cut the deficit to 37-31 at halftime.

The Lady Monarchs came out of the locker room and scored the first six points of the quarter to take a 43-31 lead with 7:22 on the clock. The teams traded scores for the rest of the quarter and King's took a 58-46 lead into the fourth quarter. The Lady Monarchs did much of their damage from the foul line in the quarter as 11 of their 21 points came from 15 attempts at the line.

Wilkes scored the first four points of the fourth to bring the Monarch advantage down to eight points but as they did all afternoon whenever the Colonels made a run King's responded with a run of their own. After Wilkes got a layup with 7:53 left the Monarchs received a three-point play from Steeber, forced a turnover on defense, Prociak knocked down one of two free throw attempts, and the Steeber scored on a fast break layup and then knock down two free throws to increase the lead to 16 points with 5:29 left in the contest. Steeber and Schmidt each knocked down one of two free throws to give the Monarchs their largest lead of the game at 70-52 with 2:14 left. With the game pretty much in hand and another game to look forward to tomorrow the Monarchs subbed out all their starters. Wilkes finished the game on a 9-1 run to set the final score.

Olivia Hoffman recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 14 rebounds while Alexis Steeber scored a game-high 17 points. Rebecca Prociak had 11 points and five rebounds while Shae Grim added 10 points. Erin Schmidt recorded six points and four rebounds and Maggie Michael equaled her career-high with five points. King's shot 38.8 (19-49) percent from the field and a season-best 75.0 percent from the line making a season-high 30 on a season-high 40 attempts.

Wilkes was led by Emily Sofranko and Haley Mesaros with 10 points each.

King's will have little time to rest as they will be back in action on Sunday afternoon with a 2:00 p.m. game at Penn State Wilkes-Barre in Lehman.