Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa. – Immaculata University women's basketball had its 2012-13 home opener at Alumnae Hall spoiled by visiting Alvernia University Tuesday night, 60-53.
 
Immaculata was paced by 13 points from Jackie Deegler, who added five rebounds and two steals. Sara Smith posted nine points and six rebounds. Katie Durkin, Chrissy Esbensen and Alison Zimny all finished with eight points. Durkin led the Mighty Macs on the glass with 10 rebounds, while Esbensen added four assists. Meghan Gallagher amassed a team-best six assists and posted five rebounds.
 
The Mighty Macs came out of the gate scoring the first 10 points of the contest during the opening three minutes. Zimny started the game knocking down back-to-back three's just 35 seconds apart. However, once Alvernia got on the scoreboard at the 15:40 mark, the Crusaders started a 20-5 run to give them a five-point lead, 20-15, with 10:35 remaining in the period.
 
The visitors lead didn't stand long as Immaculata answered with a 10-0 run to go ahead, 25-20, with 7:18 to play before halftime. Two three-pointers by Alvernia's Chelsea Ebersole kept the Crusaders within one point (27-26) of the Mighty Macs heading into the final three minutes of the first half. Each team answered one another's jumpers and free throws during the final 2:32 as Immaculata maintained a one-point edge at halftime, 31-30.
 
Five minutes into the second half, the teams were still neck-and-neck, tied at 37-37. Alvernia outscored Immaculata during the next seven minutes, 13-4, to take a 50-41 lead at the 8:39 mark. The Crusaders largest advantage was 12 points, which they held twice around the five-minute mark. Immaculata chipped Alvernia's lead to eight (58-50) with 2:38 to play, but the Mighty Macs were not able to get any closer than seven points for the final margin.  
 
The visiting Crusaders (2-1) placed three scorers in double figures led by Stevie Fortna with a game-best 21 points. Ebersole finished with 15 points and Kelsey Wolf added 12. Alvernia went 7-for-19 from three-point range, including five treys by Ebersole.
 
Immaculata (0-3) returns to Alumnae Hall following the Thanksgiving break to open Colonial States Athletic Conference action hosting Notre Dame of Maryland University on Monday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m.