Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata women's basketball team returned home to host Penn State-Brandywine in their fourth game in the season's opening seven days, and the Macs (1-3) fell behind early and despite a late charge, they were unable to come all the way back in a 73-62 loss to the Nittany Lions (2-2).
 
Senior Gina Cocci had her best game of the season with a team-high 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field, including all three three-pointers she took.  Junior Amber Ballinger filled out the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while freshman Theresa Kearney reached double figures with 11 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Mighty Macs scored the first basket of the game on a three-pointer by Cocci, but the Nittany Lions scored the next 11 points to take an 11-3 lead
-The lead grew as large as 10 for PSU-Brandywine at 15-5, but the Macs whittled it down to four points at 17-13 on a Ballinger three before heading to the second quarter trailing, 20-13
-After a Nittany Lion three pointer to open the period, the Macs scored seven straight on a three by Cocci, a jumper by sophomore Dia Veneziano (4 points, 6 rebounds), and a steal and breakaway layup by freshman Shannon Kelly (5 points) to make it 23-19 just two minutes into the second quarter
-The Macs were then outscored 14-4 the rest of the quarter to head to halftime trailing 37-23
-The Mighty Macs struggled to cut into the deficit in the early part of the quarter as the Nittany Lions had seen their lead grow to 13 at 46-33 midway through the period, but the Macs weren't going quietly as they outscored them 13-6 to end the quarter and enter the fourth trailing 52-46
-A three-pointer and a jumper by sophomore Annie Kohutka (6 points, 4 rebounds) were the final five points of the period to spark the run
-The Mighty Macs trimmed the deficit all the way to three points at 56-53 with 5:23 to go on a triple by Cocci, and the Macs were poised for another push, but the Nittany Lions had an answer every time and pulled away for the 73-62 win
 
KEY STATS
-IU shot 35.6% (21-for-59) from the field and PSU-Brandywine shot 37.3% (22-for-59) from the field
-PSU-Brandywine converted 23-of-37 (62.2%) from the line and the Macs were 13-for-18 (72.2%)
-IU Point Leaders: Cocci 13, Kearney 11, Ballinger 11, Gallagher 7
-IU Assist Leaders: Ballinger 5, Cocci/Erica Kramer/Gallagher/Emily Halloran 2
-IU Rebound Leaders: Kearney/Ballinger 7, Veneziano 6
 
UP NEXT
The Mighty Macs open Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play on Wednesday, November 29^th against Notre Dame in Alumnae Hall at 6 p.m.