FEBRUARY 1, 2003
BOB ZIADIE
KING'S WOMEN USE BIG SECOND HALF TO DOWN DESALES,
KINGSTON NETS 1,000TH POINT
CENTER VALLEY -- The King's College women's
basketball team broke open a 19-19 half-time score with a 22-0 run to
start the second half as the Lady Monarchs stunned DeSales University
52-30 in a crucial MAC Freedom Contest Saturday in Billera Hall, Center
Valley.
The Lady Monarchs, who won their fourth straight
game at DeSales dating back to the 2000 NCAA playoffs, avenged a 61-58 loss to DeSales on
December 7. In the process, Lady Monarch all-American guard Nikki Kingston
scored the 1,000th point of her career.
King's and DeSales entered the contest locked in a
three-way tie for first place in the MAC Freedom Conference along with the
University of Scranton. King's, ranked eighth nationally in Division III,
improved to 16-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play. DeSales, ranked ninth
nationally, fell to 17-2 and 6-2.
In the first half, King's jumped out to a 15-3 lead
with 14:34 remaining but DeSales began to whittle away at the lead. The
Bulldogs closed to within 17-15 on a basketball by Teri Antolick with 5:58
left in the half. Kingston, who entered the game with 996 career points,
scored her 1,000th point at the 3:38 mark to give the Lady Monarchs a
19-15 lead. Terri Antolick would bring the Bulldogs to within 19-17 with
1:35 left before Alyssa Antolick added a pair of foul shots with 1:05 left
to send the teams into the break deadlocked at 19-19.
In the second half, Carissa Ryan sparked the Lady
Monarchs with a hand in nine straight King's points. The King's senior
forward made a steal on the opening possession of the half and drained a
three-point field goal to put the Lady Monarchs on top 22-19. Ryan would
add another steal and basket, then fed Jen Wozniak for a bucket to give
the Lady Monarchs a 26-19 lead. Ryan would again post another steal and
basket to put King's ahead 28-19 with 18:35 left.
The Lady Monarchs would continue the onslaught and
built a 41-19 advantage when Tiffini Varrasse drained a three-pointer to
cap a huge 22-0 run and put King's on top 41-19 with 12:49 left in the
contest. DeSales did not score its first points of the second half until
the 10:47 mark when Amy Yencho made one-of-two foul shots to bring the
Bulldogs to within 41-20. DeSales would draw no closer than 17 points for
the remainder of the contest. King's would eventually build a 24-point
lead, its biggest of the game, at 52-28 with 0:24 left on a basket by
April Tanner.
King's forced DeSales in to a 19.2 (10-52) shooting
effort along with 26 turnovers. The Antolick sisters, DeSales top two
scorers, were held to a combined 10 points. Alyssa, who averaged 14.8
points netted just four, while Teri, who averaged 13.8 points, tallied six
for the Bulldogs.
Ryan scored a game-high 12 points with eight
rebounds and four steals. Wozniak followed with 10 points and five
rebounds while Varrasse netted 10 points with six assists. Kingston
finished with eight points and seven boards.
The Lady Monarchs will next host Drew University
Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.
