NAPLES, Fla.- The Immaculata women's basketball team (4-8) returned to action on Saturday night in their first game of the Naples Shootout on their Florida winter break trip and were undone by a big fourth quarter from St. Mary's College of Maryland in a 59-53 loss.  The Mighty Macs held a six point lead heading into the final quarter, but were outscored 22-10 in the final 10 minutes.
 
Senior Amber Ballinger had a huge game with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-In the first quarter, the teams were locked in a tight battle with neither side getting more than a three point lead, which came for IU on three made free throws by freshman Meghan Ricker, but it was St. Mary's who led 13-11 at the end of the first
-The second quarter got off to a tough start for IU over the opening four minutes with St. Mary's going on a 12-4 run to open up a 10-point lead at 25-15
-The Macs then buckled down and went on a 14-5 run to close the quarter and send the game to half at 30-29 St. Mary's.  Ballinger, sophomore Shannon Kelly, and sophomore Theresa Kearney each chipped in with at least three points during the spurt
-IU quickly tied the game at 30-30 and 32-32 before playing great the rest of the quarter, limiting St. Mary's to just seven points in the period and leading 43-37 going to the fourth quarter.  The Macs went on a 7-0 spurt, holding the opponent scoreless for four minutes behind a three by junior Annie Kohutka, a bucket by Kearney, and a layup by Ricker
-The lead got up to eight on two occasions, but they settled for a six point lead going to the final period
-St. Mary's shook their third quarter struggles and stormed out of the gates with a 10-0 run over the opening five minutes to take a four point lead, and sophomore Brielle Rigo finally ended the spurt with 4:51 to go and the Macs trailing 47-45
-However, that was the closest IU would get as St. Mary's dealt the Macs the loss
 
TEAM COMPARISON
-The Macs were 19-for-51 from the field and St. Mary's was 20-for-65
-St. Mary's was just 1-of-15 from three while IU was 4-for-18, but the Macs struggled from the line at 11-for-24 while St. Mary's was 18-for-24
-IU turned it over 28 times and St. Mary's did so 19 times
 
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
-Points: Ballinger 15, Ayoub 9, Kohutka 8
-Rebounds: Ballinger 15, Kearney 9
-Assists: Ricker 3, Ballinger 2
 
UP NEXT
The Mighty Macs will play Drew University at 5 p.m. on Sunday in their final game of the Naples Shootout.