Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa. – Neumann University defeated Immaculata University on Wednesday night in Colonial States Athletic Conference play, 65-57, as each team posted three scorers in double figures.
 
The Mighty Macs (8-14, 6-7 CSAC) were led by 19 points, three assists and two steals from Chrissy Esbensen. Jackie Deegler added 12 points, and Sara Smith finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Mackie Fitzgerald came off the bench and added four assists and three steals, while Brittany Merkle led the squad with eight rebounds and chipped in six points.
 
The game was a back-and-forth affair during the first 16 minutes of the contest with 12 lead changes and four tied scores. Neither team held a lead more than four points, and Immaculata used a 7-2 run to overcome Neumann's four-point lead to take the lead by one, 27-26 with 4:34 to play in the first half.  However, after Deegler put in the layup to give the Mighty Macs the edge, the Knights responded with an 11-0 run to take the largest difference in the first half (37-27) with 25 seconds left before halftime. Deegler was able to convert on a three-point play right before intermission to send the hosts into the locker room down just 37-30.
 
Neumann (12-11, 10-4 CSAC)  extended its lead to the largest of the contest (43-32) at the 16:36 mark of the second half as it held Immaculata without a bucket from the field for the first 3:34 of the second half. Smith ended the drought for Immaculata with a layup at the 16:26 mark, and she sparked a 9-0 spurt to bring the Mighty Macs within two (43-41) of the Knights with 14:04 remaining in the contest. Smith scored the opening five points in the run.
 
The Knights were able to pushed their advantage to eight (52-44) with 10:45 left in the contest when four-straight points from Deegler and a three-pointer by Esbensen made it a 52-51 contest at the 8:35 mark. Immaculata still trailed by one (54-53) with 7:22 left when Neumann scored seven consecutive points to bring its lead back to eight, 61-53, and the closest the Mighty Macs came the rest of the way was within six, 61-55, with just over four minutes remaining.  
 
Neumann's Bethany Humenik scored a game-high 22 points. JoHanna Metzger finished with 15 points and six rebounds, while Erica Marvel posted 13 points and five rebounds. Laura Scott led the Knights on the glass with nine rebounds.
 
Immaculata heads to Rosemont on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.