NOVEMBER 21, 2004
BOB ZIADIE
KING'S WOMEN CAPTURED MARYMOUNT TOURNEY WITH 51-47
WIN OVER ALVERNIA
ARLINGTON, VA -- Senior center Kristin Yeasted
scored a team-high 20 points and tournament most valuable player Beth
Jordan added 14 as the King's College women's basketball team defeated
2004 NCAA qualifier Alvernia College to capture the prestigious eight-team
Marymount University Tip-Off Classic Sunday in Arlington, Va.
It marked the fourth time in eight straight
appearances King's has won the event, including three of the past four
seasons.
Competing among a talented field of teams that included three squads which qualified for the 2004 NCAA National
Tournament, this year's title was unexpected as the Lady Monarchs suffered
heavy graduation losses and have a roster comprised of six freshmen and
several returning players seeing extensive playeing time for the first time
in their careers. The Lady Monarchs, however, showed they are still team
to reckon with despite their youth
The game was a defensive battle as King's would
build a 27-18 halftime time lead behind 10 points from Yeasted, seven from
Vienna Spitler and six from Jordan in the opening stanza.
In the second half, the teams would trade baskets
for nearly 10 minutes before Alvernia went on a 8-0 run and cut the King's
lead to 39-36 with 9:30 remaining. The Lady Monarchs would answer when
Yeasted converted a three-point play to extend the lead to 42-36.
The Lady Monarchs (3-0) would push the lead to
46-39 on a bucket by Lauren Bonanni but Alvernia immediate answered with a
basket from Mandy Reinhart to cut the lead to 46-42 with 4:53 left.
King's would go on a 5-0 spurt when Bonanni hit one
of two foul shots before Jordan and Yeasted followed with a
consecutive baskets to extend the Lady Monarch advantage to 51-42 with
1:07 on the clock. Alvernia (2-1) would respond with a bucket and
three-pointer in the final moments to close out the scoring.
Yeasted was a force inside for King's as she
converted 8-of-10 shots from the foul line and was able to keep Alvernia
standout center Kacie Androsko in foul trouble for much of the game.
Yeasted added nine rebounds and five blocks and earned a place on the
all-tournament team.
Jordan made 7-of-13 shots from the field and added eight rebounds as the
junior forward to earned a tournament most valuable player honor for the
first time in her career. Katie Lala had five rebounds and three assists
to also gain a spot on the all-tournament team. Spitler finished with
seven points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Alvernia was led by Erin McIntyre with nine points
while Androsko was held to eight by Yeasted. Tasheika Kennedy also scored
eight for Alvernia.
King's will be idle until Sunday, November 28 when
the Lady Monarchs host Cabrini College at 2:00 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.
