ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University women's basketball team fell in a close 70-67 gam to King's College on Wednesday evening in the 2017-18 season opener.
 
Nafisa Saunders led the Knights with 26 points. Minika Glenn added 17 points in her collegiate debut while Lauren Legler added 11 points.
 
After a 4-4 score midway through the first quarter, the Lady Monarchs 11 of the next 16 points for a 15-9 advantage. Glenn and Shauntel Williams netted the fine two baskets of the first 10 minutes for a 15-13 score.
 
With 6:15 left in the second quarter, the Knights took a 20-19 lead on a three-pointer by Legler. A basket from downtown by Williams tied the teams at 23. The teams traded baskets down the stretch of the first half. King's hit a buzzer beater to take a 34-33 lead into halftime.
 
The teams battled to start the third quarter and were tied at 43 at the midway point. The Lady Monarchs took off for the rest of the quarter and outscored the Knights 18-6 for a 61-49 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
King's hit the first basket of the fourth quarter before Neumann started to make its move. With 4:39 left on the clock, the Knights made their way to within five, 69-65. The teams then went on a three minute scoring drought, broken by a free-throw by Saunders. Glenn then made a lay-up with 1:05 left in regulation for a 69-67 score. The Knights had a few changes to tie the game, but could not get the ball to sink. The Lady Monarchs went 1-for-2 from the line for a three point game with 11 seconds remaining. Neumann had one final chance to tie the game, but couldn't get the key basket.

Neumann (0-1) will host the Neumann tip-off tournament this weekend. The Knights will face PSU-Brandywine in the opening game at 1:00 PM on Saturday