Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa. – Immaculata University women's basketball's undefeated Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) season came to an end Saturday afternoon as Neumann University came into Alumnae Hall and handed the hosts a 63-59 defeat.
 
Immaculata's (14-5, 9-1 CSAC) Alison Zimny led all scorers with 16 points, and she had four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sara Smith also had 11 points and three assists while leading the Mighty Macs with eight rebounds. Brittany Merkle finished with eight points and eight rebounds, and Mackie Fitzgerald had eight points, four rebounds and four assists.
 
Neumann (12-8, 9-3 CSAC) led 29-26 at halftime, but four points from Zimny and a jumper by Adriana Sciascia allowed Immaculata to take a one-point lead (32-31) at the 17:14 mark of the second half.
 
The Knights' Jessica Schlesman knocked down a 3-pointer on the next possession staking Neumann back with the lead. Schlesman's three began a 9-0 run for Neumann as the visitors led 40-32 with 14:48 remaining.
 
Fitzgerald had a jumper and Smith hit a three to bring the Mighty Macs within five (42-37) with 12:40 left. After two buckets by the Knights, Fitzgerald sunk a 3-pointer for Immaculata to still trail, 46-41, with 10:57 on the clock.
 
Neumann scored layups on its next three trips down the court to take its largest advantage of the game (52-41) with 9:23 to play. Immaculata chipped away at the lead but wasn't able to whittle Neumann's edge by more than eight until the Mighty Macs made a run during the final five minutes.
 
As Neumann held a 61-50 lead with 4:45 to play, Smith and Zimny each put in layups to cut the score to 61-54 with 3:58 remaining. Neither squad would score for the next three minutes until Smith drove down the lane for a layup with 32.5 seconds left in the game cutting Neumann's lead to 61-56.
 
Following the Immaculata timeout, the Mighty Macs sent Colleen Hinde to the foul line for the Knights. Neumann was only shooting 30 percent (3-10) from the line for the game at this point. However, Hinde connected on both ends putting Neumann ahead, 63-56, with 30.9 seconds remaining.  
 
Immaculata still had its shot to tie the game but missed the layup. Neumann grabbed the rebound but turned the ball over down under the Immaculata basket to set up another try for the Mighty Macs. After the first shot missed, Lindsay Cras grabbed the rebound and passed the ball to Marisa Kinsey, who hit a three as time expired for the 63-59 final.
 
Immaculata got off to a hot start in the first half, leading 11-4 with 13:11 to play. Neumann got its momentum with back-to-back three's from Erica Marvel to cut Immaculata's lead to 11-10. The Mighty Macs continued to hold the advantage until the Knights took their first lead of the game (18-17) with 8:38 to play before halftime.
 
The final eight minutes of the first half saw the lead change hands eight times and the contest was tied at 20-20 with 5:42 remaining.
 
Immaculata travels to Centenary on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. tilt with the Cyclones.