Box Score
GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – Immaculata put four starters in double figures, but Gwynedd-Mercy made seven of eight foul shots in the final minute of play to hold off a furious rally at the end and escape Griffin Complex with an 84-77 CSAC women's basketball victory Thursday night.
Immaculata (10-6, 4-3 CSAC) had trailed by as many as 16 points to host Gwynedd-Mercy (9-4, 4-0) in the second half when the Mighty Macs took their final run at the Griffins over the last seven minutes of the game.
Kelly Brown sparked the rally with half of her 14 points off the bench over a two-minute span three minutes into the second half that pulled Immaculata within 11 (56-45). That spurt was the beginning of a 28-12 run that saw the Mighty Macs eventually battle all the way back and tie the game at 66 apiece.
Gwynedd-Mercy would step back out in front by as many as five (66-61) with 6:39 to play. However, a 3-pointer by Bridget Welz (14 points) with 1:33 to go pulled Immaculata within one, 77-76.
The Griffins nailed seven of eight foul shots down the stretch to break the hearts of the Mighty Macs, who could not finish off the comeback bid.
Immaculata shot 40 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (7 of 16) for the game. Welz was 3-for-6 and Rachel Denis (13 points) 3 of 5. The Mighty Macs outscored the Griffins, 48-42 in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome a 13-point deficit at the break.
Immaculata opened the game on a 12-5 run in the first five minutes of the contest. However, Gwynedd-Mercy answered with a 14-7 run of its own to take control of the first stanza (28-20). By the end of the half, the Griffins had outscored the Mighty Macs, 27-15, and held a 42-29 advantage heading into the locker rooms.
Chrissy Esbensen led Immaculata with 15 points. Chelsea McTigue added 12. Welz had eight rebounds and five assists to go with her 14 points. Brown grabbed seven rebounds to add to her 14 as well.
Gwynedd-Mercy was led by Jackie Dooley's double-double of 19 points and 17 rebounds. Kristy McGrath scored 16.
Immaculata travels to the Big Apple Saturday afternoon for a CSAC showdown with Cabrini at Madison Square Garden. The game is part of a triple-header in The Garden. St. John's and Villanova start things off with a BIG East men's basketball tilt, followed by St. John's women taking on South Florida and concluded with Immaculata vs. Cabrini.
