HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. - The Immaculata women's basketball team has climbed back into the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) playoff conversation with its third-straight victory, this time on the road at Centenary, 60-54. Amber Ballinger led the way offensively for the Macs with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Annie Kohutka and Dia Veneziano were also in double figures with 12 each.

The victory improves the Macs to 5-8 in CSAC play with three critical conference matchups left on the regular season slate.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Three-pointers from Amber Ballinger and Gina Cocci ignited the offense in the first five minutes, enabling the Macs to stretch their lead out to four.
-IU started the second quarter on a 7-2 run - five of those points coming from Ballinger - to extend the advantage to six. However, Centenary found its stroke late in the final minutes of the first half, shrinking the deficit to one at the break.
-The Cyclones took their first lead of the game in the opening minute of the third quarter and held onto it for the first five-plus minutes. Cocci responded with a three-pointer to tie the game at 41 before Theresa Kearney deposited a lay-in to give the Macs back the lead with just over four minutes left in the third.
-The Macs carried the offensive attack into the fourth quarter by stretching the lead out to five on an Annie Kohutka jumper, but the Cyclones came right back to take over the lead with a 6-0 run to regain the lead at the five minute mark.
-Ballinger put all the doubts to rest with six points in the final four minutes, including a three to take the lead back from Centenary and a layup with under two minutes left to extend the Macs' lead to six, their largest of the afternoon.

KEY TEAM STATS
-The Macs shot 23-of-63 (36.5%) from the field opposite Centenary's 22-of-59 (37.3%) day.
-IU shot just 5-of-20 (25%) from beyond the arc, while holding the hosts to 2-of-13 (15.4%).
-The Cyclones outrebounded IU, 48-37, but the Macs forced 19 turnovers and only committed eight of their own.
-The Macs pulled away with a 15-point fourth quarter while limiting Centenary to 11, and did not lose a quarter all afternoon.

KEY INDIVIDUAL STATS
-IU Point Leaders: Ballinger 17, Kohutka and Veneziano 12
-IU Rebound Leaders: Kearney 10, Ballinger 9
-IU Assist Leaders: Kearney and Kohutka 4

UP NEXT
Immaculata (6-16, 5-8 CSAC) enter the second-to-last week of the regular season in a matchup with Cairn Wednesday night. Tip off from Alumnae Hall is set for 6 p.m.