OWINGS MILLS, Md. – In the final home game of 2023, Stevenson women's basketball grabbed an early and consistent lead, doubling their opponent's score by  the half and winning over the King's College of Penn. Monarchs 82-36 on Friday afternoon.
 
Despite the Monarchs scoring early, the Mustangs saw two ties at the beginning of the first quarter, one early off a layup by Monarch sophomore guard Gianna Dickson and the other from a layup by Mustang first-year center Amanda Nwankwo. The Mustangs found their pace with a three- pointer from sophomore forward Tessa Boswell at 4:48.  Boswell managed a tie and then took the lead on a successful free throw series at 3:18. The Monarchs had one more scoring opportunity as the Mustangs added five more points to round out the first quarter on top, 14-11.
 
The Monarchs saw an opportunity in the second, but they could not match the pace of the Mustangs. SU first-year guard Amoni Taylor and Boswell each added three- pointers with eight minutes remaining. The Mustangs scored twice more before the five-minute mark, with baskets from junior forward Stephenae Lawrence and Taylor. A free throw series brought the team to 25 points, giving them a 12-point lead. First-year guard Elia Richardson, Nwankwo and Taylor added 15 points the final minutes of the second quarter despite two late chances from the Monarchs. The Mustangs finished the half up by double, 40-20.
 
Three minutes elapsed in the third quarter before the Mustangs allowed a basket from the Monarchs. Now on top at 48 points, Lawrence brought the Mustangs to 50 off a jumper with  6:44 remaining.  As the quarter neared its end, the Mustangs added 16 points, bringing their total to 60 points at 2:52 with a three-pointer from first-year forward Janie Smith. With a 34-point lead, the Mustangs ended the third quarter 66-32.
 
Scoring on an early fourth-quarter jumper, sophomore guard Erin Dixon added two less than 30 seconds from the start. A free- throw series from the Monarchs kept the Mustangs from scoring until 6:16 left, when Nwankwo brought the team to 70 points. In five minutes' time, the Mustangs hit 80 points by the last 42 seconds with a layup from sophomore forward Kalea Wynter. With seconds left, sophomore forward Sanaa Thorne added a jumper, bringing the teams to their final 82-36 final score.
 
Nearing a double-double performance, Lawrence totaled 12 points and eight rebounds, while Richardson and Boswell added 11 points each. Towns had six rebounds, and three Mustangs -- Dixon, Jeselskis, and Jean-Jacques  -- each added two steals.
 
The Mustangs return home after the new year as they enter conference play, taking on the Eastern University Eagles on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 5 p.m. in Owings Mills gymnasium.