IMMACULATA, Pa. – For the fourth time in the last five seasons, the Immaculata University women's basketball team is headed to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Tournament. The Mighty Macs have earned the No. 3 seed in the 2014 CSAC Tournament and will host the No. 6-seed Rosemont College Ravens in a quarterfinal round game on Monday night, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. inside Alumnae Hall.
 
Immaculata (17-8, 12-4 CSAC) captured both regular-season meetings against Rosemont, defeating the Ravens, 76-66, at home on Dec. 4, before capturing the 63-58 road victory most recently on Jan. 29.This will be the first meeting between Immaculata and Rosemont during the postseason.
 
Tickets for the Colonial States Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal can be purchased at the door to the Alumnae Hall gymnasium for $5. Immaculata University students get in free with a valid student ID.
 
Immaculata returns to postseason play after just missing qualifying for the CSAC Tournament during the 2012-13 season. During the previous two seasons prior to last year, the Mighty Macs also earned the third seed in the tournament and hosted a home quarterfinal game. Immaculata has earned the third seed in the conference tournament four times, and the Mighty Macs have a 3-1 record in those quarterfinal home playoff games. After earning the third seed during 2010-11, Immaculata went on to win its semifinal contest and advance to the championship game.
 
The Mighty Macs are led by a starting group of juniors this season. Junior guard Sara Smith leads the team in scoring with 14.4 points per game, while listing second in rebounds with 6.3 boards per outing. Junior forward Brittany Merkle is the team's leader on the glass with 7.8 rebounds per game, and she is fourth in scoring with 9.8 points per game. Junior guards Adriana Sciascia and Alison Zimny are also scoring in double figures for the Mighty Macs with 10.9 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.  The final starter for Immaculata is junior point guard Mackie Fitzgerald, who is dishing out a team-best 4.0 assists per game.
 
Immaculata has been led this season by its strong field goal and free throw shooting. The Mighty Macs have combined for 649-for-1530 (.424) from the field, leading all CSAC schools while listing 57th in NCAA Division III. At the foul line, Immaculata has knocked down 359 of 480 (.748), which ranks 19th among NCAA institutions. Immaculata's well-balanced scoring is led by its ability to feed the ball, which is most evident by the team averaging 16.3 assists per game, second-best in the CSAC, and 36th in the country. The Mighty Macs have generated some of its offensive opportunities by creating turnovers on defense and forcing steals. Immaculata leads the CSAC and is 24th in the NCAA with 12.8 steals per contest.
 
In the conference's other quarterfinal game on Monday evening, fourth-seeded Marywood will host fifth-seeded Gwynedd Mercy at 7 p.m.
 
The winners of Monday's contests will travel to either top-seeded Cabrini or second-place finisher Neumann for the CSAC semifinals on Wednesday, February 26 at 7 p.m. The Colonial States Athletic Conference Championship Game will be held on Saturday, March 1 at 6 p.m., at the highest remaining seed. The winner of the CSAC championship game receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
A complete tournament schedule is listed below.
 
2014 Colonial States Athletic Conference Tournament Schedule
 
Monday, Feb. 24 (Quarterfinals)
(3) Immaculata vs. (6) Rosemont, 7 p.m.
(4) Marywood vs. (5) Gwynedd Mercy, 7 p.m.
 
Wednesday, Feb. 26 (Semifinals)
(1) Cabrini vs. lowest remaining seed, 7 p.m.
(2) Neumann vs. next lowest remaining seed, 7 p.m.
 
Saturday, March 1 (Championship)
Semifinal winners at highest remaining seed, 6 p.m.