Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa. – Led by three scorers in double figures, including a game-high 22 points from Chrissy Esbensen, Immaculata University was able to overcome an early deficit to defeat Centenary College, 70-66, in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) women's basketball action Saturday afternoon.
 
Esbensen led the Mighty Mac trio with 22 points, including three three-point shots, while adding two assists and two steals. Sara Smith added 17 points, a game-high nine rebounds and three assists. Smith finished 9-for-9 from the foul line. Katie Durkin was the final double-digit scorer with 13 points, five rebounds, five blocked shots, three steals and two assists.
 
Immaculata got off to a slow start in the first half while Centenary was 6 of 11 from the field and knocked down two free throws to jump out to the early 14-0 lead by the 13:02 mark of the opening stanza.
 
The Mighty Macs netted their first bucket of the contest just inside the 12-minute mark as Esbensen scored to start a 7-0 run for the hosts. It was the beginning of a 21-9 spark for the Mighty Macs that allowed them to cut the Cyclones' lead to 23-21 with 3:47 remaining in the first half. Centenary held a two-point lead, 29-27, at halftime.
 
Immaculata took its first lead of the game (30-29) at the 18:39 mark of the second half as Esbensen drained a three. There would be nine lead changes and four ties during the first 15 minutes before Immaculata controlled the final five.
 
The Cyclones held a slim 43-42 edge with 12:02 to play when the Mighty Macs scored eight-straight points to get in front by seven, 50-43, with 9:16 remaining. Immaculata's seven-point edge was the largest advantage for either team up to that point in the second half.
 
However, the visitors had regained the advantage by the 6:05 mark, 56-55. That was the last lead for Centenary though as Immaculata kept the Cyclones scoreless for 2:30 while building a 61-56 lead of its own with just over four minutes remaining. Centenary didn't get any closer than three points during the final four minutes, and Immaculata sealed the game going 6-for-6 from the foul line during the final 32 seconds.
 
Jackie Deegler had eight rebounds and seven points, and Mackie Fitzgerald made four points and four steals for Immaculata.
 
Centenary also had three scorers in double figures led by 16 points from Melissa Kukoda. Klarissa Perry and Heather Russell led the Cyclones on the glass with eight rebounds each.
 
Immaculata will not be back in action until Monday, Dec. 17, when it hosts DeSales at 7 p.m. at Alumnae Hall.