Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa. – Sophomore Sara Smith knocked down two clutch free throws with no time left on the clock in regulation to tie the score and send the game into overtime, then scored eight points in the extra frame to lift Immaculata to a 68-59 victory over Rowan in non-conference action Monday night.
 
Smith finished with a team-leading 14 points and added seven rebounds. Allison Murphy came off the bench to equal Smith's 14 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Mackie Fitzgerald scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists and had seven steals in the contest. Jackie Deegler also posted nine rebounds and had seven points and four assists.
 
The Mighty Macs went 5-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch in regulation, including Smith's game-tying foul shots, to help force OT. Baskets from Bria Hill and Eyandra Molina left Rowan down 50-47 with four minutes to play. The Prof's Megan Russ tied the game at 50-all at the 3:01 mark after she converted a layup and was fouled, completing the three-point play for Rowan.
 
Rowan connected on just 2 of 4 attempts from the foul line during the final 22.6 seconds of regulation to keep host Immaculata within striking distance at 52-50. As time expired, Smith was fouled under the basket trying to put back a layup and sent to the line with no time on the clock. All alone at the free throw line, Smith knocked down both shots to send her team into overtime tied at 52-52.
 
From there, Immaculata scored the first nine points of overtime and never looked back. Rowan didn't score in the overtime until 1:40 remained on the game clock.
 
Immaculata led throughout almost the entire second half, including a margin of nine points twice in the early part of the stanza. The Mighty Macs scored their last field goal of the second half with 6:42 remaining as Katie Durkin connected on a jumper giving the hosts a 47-43 lead. IU relied on its foul shooting from that point on.  
 
It was a swing game in the first half as Rowan took an early seven-point lead (9-2) during the opening four minutes. However, Immaculata went on a 10-2 run to lead by one (12-11) with 11:38 to play. The Mighty Macs led throughout the rest of the first half, including a lead of eight shortly before halftime.
 
Immaculata's effort from the charity stripe was the difference in the game as the Mighty Macs went 20-for-24 (.833), while Rowan was just 13-for-19 (.684). IU entered the game shooting just 67 percent from the foul line.
 
Molina scored a game-high 17 points and added six assists for Rowan while Stephanie Krauss recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Immaculata improves to 5-8 overall and concludes the non-conference portion of its schedule with the victory. Rowan slips to 4-10.
 
The Mighty Macs are on the road Wednesday evening at Cedar Crest for a 6 p.m. tip-off.