KING’S WOMEN FALL TO SCRANTON IN CONFERENCE FINAL,
70-69
SCRANTON -- The University of Scranton women’s
basketball team overcame a four-point half-time deficit do post a 70-69
victory over King’s College in the MAC Freedom Conference championship
game Saturday at the John Long Center.
With the win, Scranton improved to 25-2 and clinched
the conference automatic berth in the NCAA Division III National
Tournament. King’s fell to 19-8 and saw its four-year streak of NCAA
tournament berths come to an end. The Lady Monarchs will await word on an
ECAC tournament berth on Monday.
King’s took a 34-30 lead into the half-time break
and Scranton would quickly tie the score at 39-39 on a bucket by Taryn
Melody. Jennie Orelli would hit back-to back three-pointers, followed by a
Berth Jordan basket to give King’s a 42-39 lead but Melody answered with
a trey to knot the score at 44-44. Scranton then took a 47-44 lead on a
three-pointer from Kate Pierangeli but Jordan and Tiffini Varrasse hit
consecutive baskets to give King’s a 48-47 lead. Melody countered with a
short jumper as Scranton reclaimed at 49-48 lead, but Jen Wozniak would
immediately counter for King’s as the Lady Monarchs assumed a 50-49 lead
with 10:24 remaining.
Scranton would go on an 8-0 run and took a 57-50
lead on a pair of foul shots by Kate Dougherty with 8:37 left. King’s
would respond with a three-pointer from Orelli and a bucket by Varrasse to
crawl to within 57-55 with 7:02 left. Scranton would eventually take a
62-58 lead on a three-point play by Kelly Lewandowski with 4:00 left but
King’s answered right back when Beth Jordan posted a three-point play of
her own to bring the Lady Monarchs to within 62-61 with 4:52 remaining.
With the Lady Royals holding a 66-65 lead, Pierangeli was fouled and made
both ends to give Scranton a 68-65 lead. Kings Vienna Spitler was fouled
with 0:35 left and made one of two shots to bring King’s within 68-66.
Dougherty was then fouled with 0:05 left and sealed the win by making both
shots to give Scranton a 70-66 lead. Varrasse nailed a three-pointer at
the buzzer to bring the game to its final score.
In the first half King’s came out strong and
attacked the basket, feeding their inside players or with the guards
penetrating. The Lady Monarchs built a 12-9 lead following a three-point
play from Jordan. Scranton answered with a 9-0 run, capped by a basket by
Maura Kane with 9:33 left in the half to give the Lady Royals an 18-12
advantage. The Lady Monarchs answered with a 8-0 spurt on a pair of foul
shots from Jen Wozniak and back-to-back three-pointers from Spitler and
Varrasse as King’s regained a 20-18 lead.
After Pierangeli buried a three-pointer to give
Scranton a 21-20 advantage, King’s countered with a 10-0 run thanks to
seven points from Varrasse and a bucket from Kristin Yeasted to push the
lead to 30-21 with 3:41 remaining. Scranton responded with a 9-2 spurt
capped by a pair of foul shots from Kane with 0:16 left as the Lady Royals
closed to within 32-30. But Wozniak hit a short jumper with 0:02 on the
clock as the Lady Monarchs took a 34-30 lead into the halftime break.
Varrasse led all scorers with 25 points while Orelli
and Jordan added 13 and 12 respectively. Pierangeli led Scranton with 18
points while Mellody and Tara Gemmel chipped in with 12 and 10 points
each.
