DECEMBER 17, 2005
KING'S WOMEN DOWN ITHACA IN FIRST GAME OF CRUZIN' CLASSIC
FT. LAUDERDALE -- The King's College women's basketball team used its
most balanced attack of the season as four players reached
double-figures in scoring as the Lady Monarchs posted a 78-65 victory
over Ithaca College in the first day of the Cruzin' Classic Women's
Basketball Tournament Saturday in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
With the win, King's improved to 5-4 on the year while posting its
highest point total of the season.
Both teams came out of the gates quickly as Ithaca took an early 8-7
lead. The Lady Monarchs would respond, however and went on a 9-0 run to
take a 16-8 advantage with 12:48 left in the half. After an Ithaca
bucket closed toe score to 20-10 with 11:43 remaining, the Lady Monarchs
would go on a 21-11 run to build a 41-21 lead after a three-pointer from
Casey Heitman, a bucket from Brittany Atzert, and a three-pointer from
Kaitlyn Fiorino with 1:20 left in the half. A pair of foul shots by
Andrea Hochstuhl with 0:35 on the clock would enable King's to take a
43-27 lead into the halftime break.
King's would maintain a healthy double-digit lead for most of the second
half and led 68-47 with 6:57 left after a short jumper from Beth Jordan.
Ithaca, a 2005 NCAA Division III national tournament qualifier, would
look to with a 16-2 run to close to within 70-63 on a foul shot by Molly
Friel with 2:00 remaining. But the Lady Monarchs would hold off the
threat by ending the game with a 8-2 spurt thanks to a two foul shots
from Kasey Oczkowski with 0:56 left, a big three-pointer by Jenna
Palumbo at 0:32, and a decisive steal and lay-up by Oczkowski with 0:22
on the clock.
Jordan led King's with 15 points and seven rebounds while Fiorino added
12 points and three assists. Hochstuhl netted 10 points and 10 rebounds
while Lauren Kendra added 10 points with four boards. Makowiec
contributed with nine points and four assists while Oczkowski chipped in
with eight points.
Ithaca was led by Sue Kelly with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
King's will next face Waldorf College of Iowa, an NAIA Division II
scholarship program Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
