Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata women's basketball team (2-6) carried a one point lead into the fourth quarter on Saturday afternoon at home against Eastern University (2-5) in a non-conference contest, but the Eagles controlled the fourth and pulled away to defeat the Macs, 60-53.
 
Sophomore Annie Kohutka continued her strong second season with a team-high 19 points, while freshman Theresa Kearney (5 assists) had 11, and junior Amber Ballinger added 10.  All three players led the team with seven rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-IU scored the first six points of the game with buckets by Kearney, Kohutka, and freshman Natalie Ayoub, but Eastern punched back with an 8-2 spurt of their own to tie the game midway through the quarter
-The Macs then took a five point lead on a basket by Kohutka and a three pointer by Ballinger, but four straight by Eastern gave the Macs a 13-12 lead going to the second quarter
-Both teams struggled offensively to start the period with the Macs holding a three point lead midway through the quarter, but Eastern tied the game at 18-18 with 1:57 to go before halftime
-Eastern took their first lead on the next possession, and freshman Shannon Kelly hit a jumper to tie the game, but Eastern hit a three pointer with 12 seconds to go before the half to take a 23-20 lead to the break
-Opening the second half, the game was tied 28-28 three minutes in when IU touched off an 8-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game.  Kohutka hit a three pointer, and after two Ballinger free throws, Kohutka converted a traditional three-point play to put the Macs up 36-28 with 4:32 left in the third
-IU continued to lead by eight at 39-31, but Eastern tied it with an 8-0 spurt, and the Macs took a 41-40 lead to the fourth quarter after two free throws by junior Bailey Krewson
-Eastern grew their lead up to six at 50-44 with 6:45 to go when the Macs made their push.  Kohutka dropped two free throws and Ballinger made a lay up to cut it to two, and after an Eagle basket, Kearney hit a jumper to trim the deficit to one, but that's the closest they would get the rest of the way as Eastern converted at the free throw line to seal the game
 
KEY TEAM STATS
-The teams were similar from the field with Eastern 18-for-59 (30.5%) and Immaculata 17-for-56 (30.4%)
-Both teams made six three point field goals, Eastern on 16 attempts (37.5%) and the Macs on 23 tries (26.1%)
-IU was 13-for-18 (72.2%) from the line and Eastern was 18-for-25 (72%)
-The Macs held a 44-42 rebounding advantage while Eastern turned it over 15 times to 17 for IU
 
KEY PLAYER STATS
-IU Point Leaders: Kohutka 19, Kearney 11, Ballinger 10
-IU Rebound Leaders: Kohutka 7, Kearney 7, Ballinger 7
-IU Assist Leaders: Kearney 5, Cocci 4
 
UP NEXT
IU is on the road at Washington College next Saturday, December 16^th at 1 p.m.