WILKES BARRE, Pa.-- In an early season battle of unbeaten league teams, Eastern University Women's Basketball committed a season-high 23 turnovers and fell 70-55 at King's College. The Monarchs scored 30 points off those turnovers to move into sole possession of first place in the Freedom Conference.

 Meghan Nowak had the run of the game early with eight first-half points, and the Eagles led 24-21 with 3:30 to play in the half. The turnovers, however, were starting to take their toll, and the host Monarchs (11-4, 4-0 Freedom) scored eight straight points before Shante Jones split a pair of free throws with two seconds left in the half. The Eagles held the Monarchs to 35% shooting, but their defensive effort was undermined by 13 giveaways.

King's rode the momentum into the second half and built the lead to 10 with an 8-2 run out of the gate. The Eagles made several short runs to close the gap, but the Monarchs made 15-16 second half foul shots and Eastern was never able to close the gap to less than four.

The situation got worse for the visitors when Nowak, who was 8-14 from the floor for the game, picked up her fourth trying to take a charge with 10 minutes to play. Nowak went to the bench for six minutes and in that time, the Monarchs were able to force the Eagles to the perimeter. Eastern hit only two of nine 3-point attempts in the second half.  

Nowak finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, and Shante Jones added 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Celia Rader led four Monarchs in double-figures with 18 points.

Eastern (11-3, 3-1 Freedom) returns to action at home on Wednesday night against FDU-Florham. The evening is a book drive for Season of Impact. Individuals bringing children's book for donation to a school library will receive $1 off admission for each donated book.