Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa. – Powered by a balanced offense led by Mackie Fitzgerald's 15 points, Immaculata University's women's basketball team defeated Penn State Abington in the season opener for both schools on Saturday as Mighty Macs' head coach Patty Canterino became the all-time winningest women's basketball coach in Immaculata history with her 150th victory.
 
Immaculata starts the season with a win for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign after Saturday's 75-15 win against visiting Penn State Abington.
 
Immaculata had 13 of its 14 players score during the contest. Aside from Fitzgerald's 15 points, Alison Zimny added nine points, six rebounds and four steals in her return debut. Sara Smith had seven points and five rebounds in just 11 minutes of playing time, while Jacquelyn McClellan also added seven points in just eight minutes. Brittany Merkle, Christie Orgera, Marisa Kinsey and Meghan Gallagher all finished with six points each.
 
Adriana Sciascia led the Mighty Macs on the boards with seven rebounds while also pacing Immaculata with five steals. Merkle also had six rebounds, and Kinsey had a team-leading five assists.
 
Immaculata opened the contest on a 9-0 run before Penn State Abington connected with a jumper with 15:10 left in the first half. The Nittany Lions made it a 9-4 game with Kayla Nolan's second basket of the contest at the 13:27 mark. The Mighty Macs outscored the Nittany Lions 27-4 during the final 13:03 of the first half to lead by their largest margin of the half at the break, 36-8.
 
The Mighty Macs' lead continued to grow as the hosts held the Nittany Lions with a score until 9:04 remaining in the game.
 
Immaculata's 60-point margin of victory was the highest since it defeated Notre Dame 94-29 on Nov. 26, 2012. Immaculata's 15 points allowed by Penn State Abington was the fewest points given up by the Mighty Macs since the 1970-71 season when Cabrini only scored 13 points against the Mighty Macs.
 
Immaculata is on the road of its next contest on Wednesday against Penn State Berks at 7 p.m.