Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa.- The No. 2 Immaculata women's basketball team is heading back to their second straight Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship game after a 74-46 triumph over No. 3 Gwynedd Mercy on Wednesday night in front of a packed house at Alumnae Hall. The Mighty Macs used a 22-7 run to open the second half to break open a six-point game at halftime en route to the victory.

For the second season in a row, IU will be travelling to Cabrini on Saturday evening for the CSAC Championship game and the CSAC's automatic NCAA bid.

Senior Sara Smith tied a career-high with 28 points, 20 of them coming in the second half, and eight rebounds to lead the Mighty Macs (17-9) and senior Brittany Merkle notched her eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 boards. Seniors Mackie Fitzgerald (4 assists, 6 rebounds) and Alison Zimny (5 rebounds) added seven points each and senior Adriana Sciascia had five points and eight rebounds.

The Mighty Macs did a lot of their heavy lifting at the free throw line where they made 25 of 30 attempts, including 16-for-20 in the second half when they outscored GMU, 45-23.

Immaculata started the game on fire taking a 14-0 lead just 4:32 into the game. Sciascia hit a runner in the lane followed by a three ball from Fitzgerald to get the scoring started. Merkle then scored five of the next seven points before Smith converted a fast break lay-up to put the Macs up early.

The Griffins fought back throughout the half as they trimmed the lead to 19-15 behind a 15-5 run over the next eight minutes. It stayed a four-point game at 25-21 until a small spurt by IU at the end of the half sent them to the locker room with a 29-23 lead.

Much like in their last meeting against the Griffins that they won 75-43, the Mighty Macs used a great start to the second half to put the game away. This time it was a 22-7 run over the first 9:04 to put them in front 51-30 at the midway point of the second half.

Sciascia hit a three-pointer to open the half, and after a three by Gwynedd, Immaculata scored nine straight to get the lead in double digits. Smith hit a jumper followed by one from Fitzgerald and then Smith pulled off an impressive and-one as she knocked down a jumper from the left wing and was fouled. After finishing the three-point play, Smith hit another bucket to put the lead at 15 points.

The Griffins scored four straight, but another 10-0 run by the Macs gave them a commanding 21-point advantage. Zimny drilled a three pointer from the corner and Cras knocked one down from the left wing to spark the run, and Smith then continued her big second half by getting a steal and bucket at the other end for a 49-30 lead. Merkle's basket finished up the run with IU in command.

Gwynedd would get no closer than 19 points down the stretch with Immaculata building their lead to 26 points on a lay-up by Merkle with 6:39 to go. The lead swelled to 32 points at 70-38 with 3:04 remaining as Immaculata was headed back to their second straight CSAC Championship game and third appearance in five seasons with the 74-46 victory.

The Mighty Macs will face a familiar foe in No. 1 Cabrini who they have faced twice this season already and met in the 2014 CSAC Championship game. The game will be at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening at Cabrini.

A full preview of the CSAC Championship game will be available later this week.

NOTES: Smith moved into 12^th place on the career scoring list with 1,177 points, passing Theresa Grentz (1970-74) ... She also eclipsed the 600 rebound mark ... Merkle now has 14 double-doubles for her career ... Fitzgerald eclipsed the 500-point plateau with her opening three pointer ... The Mighty Macs will be seeking their first CSAC title in program history.