Box Score

HAVERFORD, Pa. – Immaculata University's women's basketball team came up just short on Tuesday night as it dropped its season opener to Haverford College, 61-58, on the road at Gooding Arena.

Immaculata (0-1) had two players record double-double performances in the game. Leah Kuczynski led the Mighty Macs in both scoring and rebounding with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Bridget Welz also finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Brianna Duffin was also in double figures with 12 points. Chrissy Esbensen dished out four assists to go along with six points.

It was a see-saw first half that featured eight lead changes and four ties. Jackie Deegler knotted the score at 21-21 with her first made free throw with 4:10 left in the opening half, and put the Mighty Macs ahead, 22-21, when she sunk her second foul shot. Haverford retook the lead with 2:31 to play, but the Mighty Macs ended the first half on an 8-2 run to lead at halftime, 30-25.

The Mighty Macs continued to hold the lead until the 10:10 mark of the second half when Elizabeth Lynch hit a three for the Fords to put them ahead, 44-43. Immaculata took the lead back twice more, the last coming with 6:45 to play in the game as Welz sunk a three-pointer of her own. Haverford got up by five (59-54) with 3:44 left, when Esbensen hit two free throws and Welz connected on a jumper to put the Mighty Macs within one, 59-58, with 46 seconds remaining. However, Haverford hit 2-of-3 free throws during the final 20 seconds to hold on for the win.

Lynch led the Fords (1-0) with  a game-high 21 points, including five three-pointers. Dominique Meeks also had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Haverford.

Immaculata heads to the Terry Greene Memorial Tournament  hosted by Franklin & Marshall on Nov. 19 and 20. The Mighty Macs play Elizabethtown on Saturday, Nov. 19 2 p.m. to begin tournament action.