CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa.- The Immaculata women's basketball team (4-16, 3-8 CSAC) got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon at Clarks Summit with a wire-to-wire, 73-50, victory.  The Mighty Macs never trailed after taking the lead in the first minute of the game.
 
Junior Amber Ballinger was outstanding with 22 points, junior Dia Veneziano had 16 points, and freshman Theresa Kearney had a great game with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs took their first and final lead of the day in the opening minute as Veneziano knocked down a pair of free throws, and followed that with a layup for a quick advantage, 4-0
-IU took control with 12-0 spurt in the middle of the quarter to take a 16-3 lead
-Kearney hit a pair of free throws and two field goals, Veneziano converted two baskets, and freshman Emily Halloran hit a layup to polish off the run and put IU up 16-3 with just under four minutes in the period
-Kearney hit a layup late in the quarter to send the Macs to the second quarter with a 21-12 lead
-The teams traded baskets early in the second until Clarks Summit cut the lead to six at 26-20 with 4:49 to go before the half, but the Macs got a bucket from Ballinger and two free throws by junior Annie Kohutka made it 30-20
-Ballinger hit a three-pointer just before the half to send the Macs to the locker room up, 34-23
-IU put the game away for good with a 9-0 run in the third quarter that took their lead from seven points to 16
-Ballinger drilled a three to start the run and Veneziano scored the next six to make it 46-30 with two minutes left in the third, and a lay-up by Cocci put the Macs up 48-31 heading to the fourth
-IU continued to pile on, seeing their lead get over 20 points on five straight from Ballinger, and back-to-back baskets from Halloran and Kearney to make it 63-36
-The Macs finished off the 23-point victory, 73-50
 
KEY TEAM STATS
-The Macs were 27-of-70 (38.6%) from the field and held the Defenders to just 17 made field goals on 59 attempts (28.8%)
-IU was 8-for-25 (32%) from three point range, five from Ballinger, and the Defenders were 6-of-22
-The Macs were better at the line at 11-for-15 (73.3%) while Clarks Summit struggled at 55.6% (10-for-18)
-The Macs had a significant advantage on the glass, 45-34
-IU turned the ball over a season-low seven times and forced 14 of them
 
KEY PLAYER STATS
-IU Point Leaders: Ballinger 22, Veneziano 16, Kearney 14
-IU Rebound Leaders: Kearney 14, Ballinger 8, Cocci 7, Halloran 6
-IU Assist Leaders: Kearney 6, Ballinger 4
 
UP NEXT
The Mighty Macs will host Rosemont at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening at Alumnae Hall.