KING'S DOWNS SALISBURY IN LADY MONARCH TOURNEY FINAL
(Arcadia defeats Keystone in consolation game)
WILKES-BARRE -- Tournament most valuable player Kaitlyn Fiorino scored a game-high 22 points and Jena Palumbo followed with 21 to lead the King's College women's basketball team to a 78-56 victory over Salisbury University in the championship game of the Candlewood Suites/Lady Monarch Classic Saturday in Scandlon Gym.
As they did a night earlier in a semi-final victory over Arcadia, King's came flying out of the gates, opening up a 18-8 lead. The Lady Monarchs would stretch the advantage to 29-13 with 8:59 left in the half on back-to-back three-pointers by Palumbo and Fiorino, and a bucket down low by Brittany Atzert.
The Lady Monarchs would build its biggest lead of the half with 1:08 on the clock when a pair of foul shit by Casey Heitman and one-of-two foul shots by Atzert gave King's a 43-19 lead at the half.
King's continued the onslaught in the second half and built 62-29 lead, its biggest advantage of the game, on a short jumper from Palumbo with 10:05 on the clock.
Firoino was 8-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range and earned MVP honors after tallying 21 points on Friday against Arcadia. Palumbo was 6-of-16 from the floor and 4-of-10 from long-range while adding four rebounds and two steals.
Andrea Hochstuhl earned a spot on the all-tournament with her second straight double-double, posting 14 points and 11 rebounds. Kendra was solid at point-guard, dishing out nine assists for the second consecutive night while registering seven rebounds and six points. Atzert finished with seven points.
Jessica Mills had nine points for Salisbury while Meghan Klug earned a berth on the all-tournament team with nine points and seven boards. Marissa Manzo netted seven points.
KING'S COLLEGE 78, SALISBURY 56 SALISBURY (8-3) Meghan Klug 4-9 1-2 9; Jessica Mills 3-15 2-2 9; Marissa Manzo 3-3 0-0 6;Rachel Downes 1-2 3-4 5; Meghan Phillips 2-6 0-1 5; Lindsay Martin 2-6 1-1 5; Brianna Simpson 2-6 0-0 4; Kylie Hall 1-4 1-2 3; Victoria Lawson 1-6 1-3 3; Jenna Peters 1-3 0-0 2; Shaniece Roseborough 1-3 0-0 2; Katie MacFarland 1-4 0-0 2; Catherine Mills 0-8 1-2 1. Totals 22-75 10-17 56. KING'S COLLEGE (7-5) Kaitlyn Fiorino 8-12 2-2 22; Jenna Palumbo 6-16 5-6 21; Andrea Hochstuhl 6-14 2-5 14; Brittany Atzert 3-6 1-2 7; Lauren Kendra 2-3 2-4 6; Sarah Darling 0-1 2-2 2; Jessica Paettie 0-2 2-2 2; Casey Heitman 0-4 2-2 2; Kaitlyn Malshefski 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-60 18-25 78. Salisbury....................... 19 37 - 56 King's College................ 43 35 - 78