WILKES-BARRE, Pa.- The Manhattanville women's basketball team made a late comeback on Saturday night, but the Valiants were unable to close out King's (Pa.) College in Freedom Conference play, falling by a final score of 62-54.
 
Despite Manhattanville (10-7. 1-5 Freedom) having two players finish in double figures, the Valiants shot only 29.6 percent (21-of-70) from the floor, helping allow King's (Pa.) (7-10, 3-3 Freedom) to come away with the victory. Senior Alyson Caiazzo (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Saviour) led the Valiants offensively, finishing with 15 points to go with 15 rebounds. Junior Ashley Franklin (New Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career) tallied 12 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
 
The Monarchs had three players finish in double figures, including a team-high 15 points coming from Kasey Seitz. Kayla Feairheller and Marissa Manning finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
King's jumped out early on the Valiants, knocking down two three-point baskets in the first minute of play, taking an early 6-0 lead. Manhattanville eventually battled back, tying the game up at 10 after a jumper from Caiazzo at the 9:15 mark in the first. After the Caiazzo bucket, the Monarchs scored the next nine points, securing a 19-10 lead with just under seven minutes left until halftime. The Monarchs continued to take advantage of Valiant mistakes, leading by as many as 12 points in the first half until two consecutive three-pointers from freshman Kelsey Decker (Sidney, N.Y./Sidney) brought Manhattanville within six points at the half, 25-19.
 
The Monarchs started the second half on a 9-2 run, giving them a 34-21 lead with 16:32 left in the contest. King's (Pa.) continued to pressure the Valiants offensively, as the Monarchs eventually took their biggest lead of the game at 16 points after a free throw from Manning with 8:33 left, making it 48-32.

Despite trailing by 16, the Valiants started to gather rhythm offensively, utilizing a 17-3 run to pull within only two points of the Monarchs, 51-49. With under three minutes left in the game, the Monarchs tallied one field goal to go with nine made free throws, giving them the late edge to beat the Valiants by a final score 62-54.
 
Manhattanville will return home for its next game on Wednesday night, as the Valiants look to upset #1 FDU-Florham in Freedom Conference play at 6 p.m. Both live video and live stats are available via GoValiants.com.