IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata women's basketball team (2-10, 1-3 CSAC) got off to a strong start on Saturday afternoon in a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) game hosting Gwynedd Mercy (2-10, 1-3 CSAC), but the Griffins turned a three-point game into a 17-point lead at one point in the second half as the Macs fell in Alumnae Hall, 63-50.
 
IU was outscored 30-20 after the break in the loss.
 
Freshman Natalie Ayoub notched her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds while sophomore Annie Kohutka chipped in 11, and junior Amber Ballinger had 10 with seven boards.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Mighty Macs were red-hot to start the game as Ayoub and freshman Theresa Kearney hit buckets, and Kohutka hit a pair to stake them to an 8-0 lead over the first 4:39
-The lead got as large as nine at 13-4 with 3:54 remaining after a free throw by Cocci, but the Griffins closed the period on a 10-3 spurt to close the gap to two points at 16-14
-Kohutka hit a pair of free throws in the early going of the second quarter to grow the lead up to five at 20-15, but Gwynedd scored the next six to take their first lead of the game at 22-21
-Four straight by the Macs put them back in front, 24-21, and the Macs continued to lead at 30-28 with 1:34 left before the half, however the Griffins scored the final five points to take a 33-30 lead to the locker room
-Gwynedd returned the favor with an 8-0 start to the second half to see their lead get up to 41-30, but the Macs bounced back with a 9-2 spurt, punctuated by a three from Ballinger to make it 43-39 midway through the third
-Gwynedd had another answer with an 8-0 run to close the quarter as they led 51-39
-The lead grew as large as 17 to start the fourth, and was still sitting at 14, but the Macs went on a 6-0 spurt to get back into it with one minute remaining, trailing 58-50
-Gwynedd held off the IU rally with the final five points of the game in the 63-50 loss
 
KEY TEAM STATS
-The Macs were 18-for-58 (31%) from the field, the Griffins were 23-for-61 (37.7%)
-Neither team was effective from three as the Mas were 3-for-18 and Gwynedd was 4-for-21
-IU was efficient at the line at 11-for-13 (84.6%) while Gwynedd was just 13-for-20 (65%)
-The Macs turned the ball over 23 times to just 19 for Gwynedd and were outrebounded 42-37
 
KEY PLAYER STATS
-IU Points: Ayoub 13, Kohutka 11, Ballinger 10
-IU Rebounds: Ayoub 11, Ballinger 7
-IU Assists: Krewson 3, Cocci 3, Kohutka 3
 
UP NEXT
The Macs travel to Cairn on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. tip off against the Highlanders.