IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Mighty Mac women's basketball team claimed their second consecutive victory on Wednesday night at Alumnae Hall with a 68-55 triumph over the visiting Rosemont College Ravens (13-8, 7-5 CSAC).  The Macs moved to 4-8 in CSAC play to keep their playoff hopes alive.
 
IU was bolstered by three outstanding performances on the night, all of them double-doubles.  Junior Amber Ballinger had 17 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and four steals, junior Dia Veneziano had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and freshman Emily Halloran had a career night with 11 points and 10 boards.  Sophomore Annie Kohutka also chipped in with 15 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Mighty Macs never trailed in the game, thanks to their great start where they took an 11-1 lead in the opening three minutes behind two made triples by Kohutka, along with two free throws, and another made three by senior Gina Cocci
-Rosemont trimmed the deficit to three points at 13-10, but the Macs ripped off seven straight behind field goals from Veneziano and Halloran, and some free throws by Ballinger and Halloran, to make it 20-10 and they took a 20-12 lead into the second quarter
-In that period, the Macs saw their lead grow to 13 points at 29-16 after a basket by Veneziano at the 4:26 mark, but Rosemont closed the half on a 9-0 run to send the game to the half at 29-25
-The Mighty Macs started the second half the same way they started the first, this time with an 18-6 run over the first six minutes to make it 47-31, their largest lead of the game
-Ballinger hit two triples, and freshman Theresa Kearney had one herself to fuel the run
-Rosemont battled back with an 11-2 run to get the game to 49-42 going to the fourth
-The Macs started the fourth quarter with baskets by Ballinger and Veneziano before a pair of free throws by Kohutka made it 55-42, and the IU lead never dipped into single digits the rest of the way en route to the win
 
KEY TEAM STATS
-The Macs held a huge advantage from three point range, knocking down 8-of-19 (42.1%) while holding the Ravens to 2-of-14 (14.3%)
-IU was 22-for-62 (35.5%) from the field and Rosemont was 21-for-66 (31.8%)
-The Macs were 16-of-25 (64%) from the free throw line and the Ravens struggled at 11-for-20 (55%)
-The Mighty Macs had a huge night on the glass, holding a 53-40 advantage
 
KEY PLAYER STATS
-IU Point Leaders: Ballinger 17, Kohutka 15, Veneziano 14, Halloran 10
-IU Rebound Leaders: Veneziano 13, Ballinger 12, Halloran 10
-IU Assist Leaders: Ballinger 6, Cocci 3, Gallagher 3
 
WHAT THEY SAID
-Head Coach Chrissy Esbensen: "We've put together two really good efforts recently, especially defensively, and we are seeing that progress in the results we've gotten.  We want to continue building on this momentum as we enter the final couple weeks."
 
UP NEXT
The Macs head to Centenary on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off