IMMACULATA, Pa.- Immaculata University avenged an earlier loss to Neumann University with a 69-61 win over the Knights in a key Colonial States Athletic Conference battle Wednesday evening. The Mighty Macs improve their record to 10-10 overall and 8-3 in CSAC standings. Neumann falls to 10-11 on the season and 9-3 in conference play.
Leah Kuczynski paced the Mighty Macs with a double-double performance of 24 points and 11 boards, shooting 10-for-11 from the field, to go along with three steals and four blocks. Chrissy Esbensen finished with 15 points, five assists, and three steals while Kelly Brown totaled 12 points and six rebounds. Bridget Welz contributed 10 points and six rebounds in the victory.
The two teams traded the lead nine times over the first 13 minutes of Wednesday night's contest. Neumann took a 25-22 lead on a Erica Marvel three-pointer with 7:40 to play and closed the half with a 12-7 run to take a 35-29 advantage into halftime.
The Mighty Macs jumped out to a 10-4 run and knotted the score at 39-all at the 14:11 minute mark. Neumann's Bethany Humenik answered with five points of her own in a two-minute span to put the Knights back in the lead, 44-39. A steal by Katie Durkin followed by a pair of her free throws tied the game, 45-45, will 11 minutes to play. Immaculata would take control of the game in the next five minutes of play on a 14-11 run led by Kuczynski's 11 points.
With four minutes to play, Neumann was able to cut their deficit and tie the score, 58-all. An Immaculata foul gave the Knights a chance to tie the game but hit the back end of a pair of free-throws and would trail by one, 60-59, at the 3:12 minute mark. The Mighty Macs did not let the Knights any closer as a 9-2 run in the final three minutes sealed the victory.
Erica Marvel and Bethany Humenik led Neumann with 12 points each while Humenik pulled down a team-high 14 rebounds. Laura Scott and Colleen Hinde contributed 10 points each for the Knights.
Immaculata is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Gwynedd-Mercy for a 2 p.m. CSAC contest.
