IMMACULATA, Pa. – The Immaculata University women's basketball team won the program's first ever Atlantic East Conference championship at home on Saturday, defeating Gwynedd Mercy 70-57. The owned the lead for over 36 minutes on the game as Theresa Kearney led the Macs with 15 points as she earned the title of Conference Championship Most Valuable Player.
 
After the Griffins owned a 5-4 lead just three minutes into the contest, the Macs took the lead and did not relinquish it. Scoring 10 points on the rest of the quarter the Macs owned a 14-9 lead heading into the second quarter.
 
Gwynedd Mercy scored five points out of the gate in the second quarter in an attempt to narrow the score. Immaculata, however, responded with four straight points to nullify Gwynedd's rally. The Mighty Macs then rallied throughout the rest of the half, scoring 20 points to Gwynedd's 13, increasing the lead to 41-27 at the half. On the second quarter, the Macs posted 27 points overall.
 
Junior Morgan Falcone led the Mighty Macs on the first half, scoring 11 points wjhile earning eight rebounds defensively. Kaitlyn Racobaldo also scored eight for the Macs while Meghan Ricker and Abigail Boyer each scored six points.
 
The Griffins scored six points within the first two and a half minutes to begin the second half before the Mighty Macs found their footing. After that point, however, the Macs began to rally, scoring seven points over the next three minutes to restore a 14-point advantage. The Griffins went on to score nine points in the final four minutes of the quarter, however, to narrow the Macs' lead to 52-45 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Over the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, the Macs outscored the Griffins 10-7, regaining a ten-point advantage. The Griffins then scored five points over the next two minutes, standing within striking distance of the Macs as the score stood at 62-57.
 
From that point on, however, the Immaculata defense shut down the Gwynedd Mercy offense, preventing them from scoring a single point over the final three minutes of action. Theresa Kearney meanwhile went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line, ensuring the Macs' lead. A rebound from Morgan Falcone with 19 seconds on the clock sealed the deal for the Mighty Macs as they celebrated their conference championship.
 
Kearney and Falcone each recorded double-doubles to lead the way for the Mighty Macs. Kearney was dubbed the Championship's Most Valuable Player, recording a double-double, leading the Macs with 15 points scored and 12 rebounds.
 
Morgan Falcone, meanwhile, also recorded a double-double for the Macs, scoring 13 points and leading the Macs defensively with 15 rebounds, one block, and one steal.
 
With the victory, the Mighty Macs earn both the title of Atlantic East Champions and an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III tournament. The Macs now await the NCAA Division III selection show, which will take place on Monday, February 28^th at 2:30 P.M. A watch party will take place in the Alumnae Gymnasium for all students, faculty, and staff.
 
"This is an exciting time for Immaculata women's basketball," said head coach Chrissy Rhine. "I am so proud of this team and all they have accomplished. We worked hard all season to put ourselves in this position and today all their work paid off."