IMMACULATA, PA – The women's basketball team dropped a hard fought 64-56 contest against conference-leading Cabrini on Wednesday evening from Alumnae Hall.
Theresa Kearney led three Macs (9-10, 3-4) in double figures and scored 13 points while Brielle Rigo and Jordan Rook scored 12 and 11 points respectively as Rigo pulled in 19 rebounds for a double-double. Kaitlyn Racobaldo added eight points to provide a spark off the bench. Meghan Matthews paced Cabrini (14-5, 6-0) with 18 points as Ashley Tutzauer chipped in with 13 points for the Cavaliers.
Both teams traded early baskets as Cabrini held a slight 8-7 lead with 5:06 remaining in the first quarter when the Cavaliers went on a quick 7-0 spurt with a pair of layups and a three pointer, giving Cabrini a 15-7 advantage with three minutes remaining.
Jordan Rook hit her first three of the game and connected on a free throw to trim into the lead, as Cabrini held a 17-11 lead after the first quarter.
The Macs put together a strong second quarter and outscored the Cavaliers 15-6 in the frame to take a 26-23 lead heading into the half. The Macs took its first lead of the game in parts to a 9-0 run with 2:06 left in the quarter following a layup by Kearney.
Immaculata held Cabrini to 3-of-23 in the quarter (13-percent) to take the lead. Jordan Rook led the way with eight points in the opening 20 minutes.
Cabrini had a hot start to the third quarter and went on a 10-2 run to retake the lead at 33-28 with 6:42 left in the third quarter. Kearney would make a jumper and Rook would make a free throw to cut the deficit to two but that is as close as the Mighty Macs made it as the Cavaliers responded with an 8-0 spurt to take a 43-33 lead with 2:52 remaining in the third.
The Macs would close the third on an 8-2 run to make it 49-43 in favor of Cabrini heading into the fourth quarter.
Kearney continued the run into the fourth and cut the Cabrini lead to four with eight minutes left in the game, but the Cavaliers kept the Mighty Macs at bay. The Cavaliers limited Immaculata to 28-percent shooting in the fourth (4-of-14) while the Cavaliers shot 40-percent in the decisive quarter to hold on for the 64-56 win.
Immaculata out rebounded Cabrini 50-39 but lost the turnover battle 27-14. Immaculata benefited from the charity stripe and went 20-25 in the contest. Immaculata returns to action on Saturday afternoon when it travels to Marywood at 1 p.m.
