IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata University women's basketball team used a dominant second quarter performance to defeat visiting Wesley, 60-40, and get back on track in Atlantic East Conference play Saturday afternoon in Alumnae Hall. The Macs outscored the Wolverines 19-5 in the final ten minutes of the first half to extend their lead to 15 heading into the break and led by double figures the rest of the way.

Amber Ballinger and Theresa Kearney led the Macs with a game-high 18 points apiece, while Brielle Rigo contributed nine rebounds and four blocks in the effort. The victory moves the Macs to 3-4 in Atlantic East Conference play with a pivotal stretch in their schedule upcoming.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Macs and Wolverines were locked into a back-and-forth battle early on in the first quarter as neither team was able get in a rhythm offensively. Wesley led for a majority of the first quarter, but a Ballinger three at the buzzer on a perfectly-timed Bailey Krewson pass on from the baseline gave the Macs their first - and only - lead of the afternoon.
-Ballinger's three set off a 19-2 run for the first nine minutes of the second quarter - six of which came from Kearney - as the Macs pulled away to take a 15-point lead into halftime.
-The trend continued into the second half, as IU posted a 6-0 run out of the break on field goals from Annie Kohutka, Natalie Ayoub and Rigo to extend its lead to 21 at the time. The Macs would go on to lead by as much as 22 in the second half to pull away for the 20-point win, while limiting Wesley to just 25 points in the final two quarters.

TEAM COMPARISON
-The Mighty Macs shot 38.6 percent (22-57) from the field, while holding the Wolverines to just 29.6 percent (16-54).
-IU caused 17 Wesley turnovers - seven of which resulted in steals - and scored ten points on those opportunties.
-The Macs controlled the battle on the boards, 40-37.
-IU held Wesley to only 2-of-8 from beyond the arc, with both successful threes coming in the second half alone.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
-Points: Ballinger/Kearney 18
-Assists: Kearney 5
-Rebounds: Rigo 9, Kearney 7
-Blocks: Rigo 4
-Steals: Ballinger 4

UP NEXT
Immaculata (6-14, 3-4 Atlantic East) hits the road Wednesday to take on Neumann at 6 p.m.