ASTON, Pa.- The Immaculata University women's basketball team overcame a 17-point deficit to force overtime, but the Mighty Macs fell to Neumann, 80-75, in an overtime thriller in Colonial States Athletic Conference action on Wednesday night at the Mirenda Center.

The Mighty Macs (7-7, 5-1 CSAC) trailed 36-23 heading into the second half but climbed back into the game using an 18-9 run to cut the lead to three points with 32 seconds remaining in regulation. Chrissy Esbensen knocked down a three-point basket with nine seconds to go to send the game into overtime, 61-61.

The Knights (6-8, 5-1 CSAC) started the extra frame on a 6-2 run but Esbensen answered with a three-point play as the Mighty Macs trailed by one point with two minutes remaining, 69-68. Neumann's Sami Borcky answered with three points of her own to put the Knights up by four until a pair of free-throws by Leah Kuczynski left the Mighty Macs trailing by just two points.

Neumann added two more points 13 seconds later and Kuczynski would convert on a layup at the 1:01 minute mark but a Neumann layup followed by a  pair of free throws put the Knights up by their largest lead in overtime with six points, 78-72. Esbensen's three-pointer with eight seconds left was not enough to cap off a dramatic comeback as Neumann escaped with the win.

Esbensen led all scorers with a career-high 28 points including a team-high four steals and three assists. Leah Kuczynski and Bridget Welz both totaled 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss while Sara Smith pulled down a team-high nine rebounds while netting seven points off the bench.

Four players scored in double-figures for the Knights, led by Laura Scott and Sami Borcky who finished with 16 points a piece while Borcky totaled a team-high 12 rebounds.  Erica Marvel and Bethany Humenik totaled 14 points each in the win.

Immaculata returns to play on Monday, Jan. 16 when it hosts Gwynedd-Mercy for a CSAC contest at 6 p.m.