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CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. – Third-seeded Immaculata University women's basketball were unable to upend second-seeded Baptist Bible College in the Colonial States Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals on Wednesday night, falling 66-58 to the Defenders.
 
Immaculata was right in the game during the closing minutes, cutting Baptist Bible's lead to just one point twice during the final 2:23. Bridget Welz had a jumper with 2:23 to play making the margin, 55-54, but Baptist Bible went ahead by three after two Ruthie Butts free throws.

Kelly Brown again brought the Mighty Macs within one (57-56) with her jumper with 1:30 left in the contest. Then, after the Defenders extended their lead back to four, 60-56, Brown again drained a jumper just inside the three-point arc, bringing Immaculata within two (60-58) with 41 seconds left in the game. But, Melanie Williams went 4-for-4 from the free throw line during the final 36 seconds for Baptist Bible, and Kacee Rava had a layup in the closing seconds to seal the win for the Defenders.
 
Brown finished the game with a double-double as she led the Mighty Macs in both scoring and rebounding with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Welz also added 13 points and had seven rebounds. Chrissy Esbensen and Sara Smith added nine points each, and Esbensen dished out six assists. Leah Kuczynski chipped in eight points and 10 rebounds.
 
Baptist Bible came out strong in the first half, jumping out to a 12-3 lead by the 12:59 mark. However, Immaculata responded with an 11-4 run of its own to quickly trim the Defenders lead to 16-14 with 6:48 remaining in the first half. Smith fueled the spurt scoring the first eight points and Brown capped it was a trey.
 
The Defenders took a double-digit lead (28-18) at the 3:32 mark, but the Mighty Macs came right back and closed the half on an 8-4 run to trail just 32-26 at halftime.
 
Baptist Bible re-established its double-figure lead at the 16:11 mark of the second half but Immaculata was able to answer. The Defenders maintained a nine-point lead (54-45) with 7:56 left in the game, when the Mighty Macs turned on their defense. Immaculata had a 7-0 run, and held Baptist Bible scoreless for almost five minutes, as the Mighty Macs came within two (54-52) with 3:11 left in the game.
 
Butts had a game-high 17 points for Baptist bible to lead four scorers in double figures. Two Defenders had double-doubles with Rava leading on the glass with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Jessica White finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Immaculata ends its season with a 15-12 overall mark. Baptist Bible , which improved to 18-7, advances to the CSAC championship game on Saturday evening where it will play top-seeded Gwynedd-Mercy. The Griffins held on for an 82-78 win in double overtime in the league's other semifinal contest against Marywood University.