IMMACULATA, Pa.- The Immaculata women's basketball team hosted their first-ever Atlantic East Conference game on Saturday afternoon against familiar foe Neumann (8-6, 1-1), and the Macs (4-11, 1-1) fells behind early on and were playing catch up all day, but were unable to do so in an 81-65 defeat.
 
Sophomore Theresa Kearney was outstanding offensively for the Macs with a career-high 26 points, 16 of them in the first half, while sophomore Natalie Ayoub scored 12 as the other Mac in double figures.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
-Neumann hit a three pointer on their first possession in what turned out to be the only lead change of the day, and the Macs came back with a Kearney layup
-With the score sitting at 6-4, the Knights went on a 7-0 spurt to swell their lead to nine points midway through the quarter
-The Macs bounced back with five straight on a jumper by Kearney and a traditional three point play by Kearney to make it 13-9, but Neumann punched back with six straight and took a 22-11 lead to the second quarter
-The Macs cut the deficit to 10 points twice, but with Neumann holding a 12 point lead, the Knights scored nine of the next 11 to take a 37-18 advantage, their largest of the game, with four minutes before halftime.  Neumann had a 42-26 lead at the break
-Still trailing by 16 at 49-33 with seven minutes before the fourth, the Macs made a little push on a three pointer by junior Annie Kohutka and a lay-up by sophomore Shannon Kelly, but the Knights always responded with a bucket to keep the lead at double digits heading to the fourth, 57-45
-The Mighty Macs got the deficit under 10 points after a pair of Kearney free throws made it 59-50 with eight minutes remaining in the game, and it stayed at nine after a traditional three point play by Ayoub
-Nine points is the closest the Macs would get as Neumann continued to score and topped IU, 81-65
 
TEAM COMPARISON
-Neumann was efficient offensively at 31-for-59 (52.5%) while the Macs were 22-for-65 (33.8%)
-The Macs struggled from deep at 4-for-20 (20%) while the Knights were effective at 9-for-19 (47.4%)
-The Macs held an advantage at the line as Neumann was 10-for-22 (45.5%) while IU was 17-for-27 (63.0%)
-IU turned the ball over just seven times while Neumann gave it up 14 times, but the Knights held a 46-36 advantage in rebounding
 
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
-Points: Kearney 26, Ayoub 12, Kelly 8
-Rebounds: Ayoub 7, Ballinger 7, Kelly 5
-Assists: Gallagher 3, Ricker 3, Ballinger 2, Kohutka 2
-Steals: Krewson 3, Ayoub 2, Gallagher 2
 
UP NEXT
The Mighty Macs will stay home on Wednesday night to host Marymount at 6 p.m.