WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 14, 2023) – In their final non-conference contest of the 2022-23 season, the King's College women's basketball team fell at home, 75-50, to the visiting Albright College in McGrane Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Monarchs drop to 3-13 overall, while the Lions improve to 10-6.

It was a closely contested match up to start, and after giving up two early baskets to Albright (10-6), King's responded with five straight to take the 5-4 lead with 7:49 to go in the opening quarter. The teams traded a pair of runs that saw the Monarchs knot up the contest, 9-9, off a jumper from junior Kiersten Krouse with 5:46 left in the period, but the visitors would go on a 11-4 run to finish the quarter ahead, 20-13. The Lions would carry this momentum into the second as they found their rhythm offensively to see King's trailing, 38-24, at the break.

Albright stormed out of the locker room as they rattled off 11 unanswered points, but King's would hang tough as they entered the final quarter of regulation trailing 60-39. The Monarchs would open the fourth on a 7-4 spurt to close within 64-46, but the Lions would hold off a King's comeback effort as the Monarchs fell, 75-50, on Saturday afternoon in the non-conference match up in McGrane Gymnasium.

Sophomore Lauren Casey led King's with 10 points and pulled down four boards, while Krouse added eight points and a team-high five assists. The first-year duo of Gianna Dickson and Deanna Wallace came off the pines to total seven points apiece, while fellow first year Mackenzie Bennett had a solid outing with a team-leading seven boards and five points. Additionally, junior Caileigh Costello and senior Cailin Wilson collected two steals a piece for King's.

Albright was led by Amina Rauf with 19 points and four steals, while Orianna Edmond posted a double-double of 13 points and 10 boards with two blocks.

The Monarchs defensive efforts forced 16 turnovers while collecting eight steals, while the offense shared the ball well posting 15 assists on 19 made field goals. The King's bench also performed well as they outscored the Albright bench, 26-18.

King's will return to conference action on Wednesday evening as they host cross-town rival Wilkes University in McGrane Gymnasium at 8:00 p.m.

--MONARCHS--