Box Score

SWARTHMORE, Pa. – All five Immaculata starters were in double figures as the Mighty Macs defeated Shenandoah, 70-65, on the first day of the Swarthmore Tip-Off Tournament.

Chrissy Esbensen led the group, pouring in a career-high 21 points. Leah Kuczynski and Chelsea McTigue each recorded double-doubles as Kuczynski had 12 points and a team-leading 13 rebounds, while McTigue finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Bridget Welz chipped in 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals, and Rachel Denis rounded out the starting five with 10 points.

The Mighty Macs (2-0) turned a one-point halftime deficit (23-22) into a 10-point advantage just 5:25 into the second half on a 15-4 run to start the stanza. Immaculata saw all five starters score during the spurt led by six points from Kuczynski.

Immaculata's lead grew to as many as 11, but Shenandoah was able to keep the Mighty Macs from pulling away. Immaculata's final double-digit lead (56-46) came with 5:48 remaining, but eight straight points by the Hornets cut the margin to 56-54 with 3:15 left.

The Mighty Macs extended their lead to seven (63-56) with 1:43 to play, but the Hornets would not go away. Shenandoah (1-1) had six straight points to trim IU's lead to just one, 63-62, with just 36 seconds remaining.

However, Immaculata's 7-for-8 effort from the foul line down the stretch sealed the win for the Mighty Macs.

The Mighty Macs finished the contest 17 of 24 (.778) from the line compared to Shenandoah which was just 4-for-8 (.500).

Immaculata advances to the tip-off tournament championship game on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. The Mighty Macs face host Swarthmore, who defeated Misericordia on Saturday.