SCRANTON, Pa.- The Immaculata University women's basketball team shook off the rust after a ten-day break in their schedule to earn a 60-53 come-from-behind Atlantic East Conference Road win over Marywood.
In the first quarter, Immaculata got the scoring started early with Tessa Liberatoscioli hitting a jumper with 9:44 remaining. Immaculata took an early 6-2 lead on a layup by Abigail Lentowski. Both teams struggled to score through the middle of the quarter. Marywood took a 9-6 lead with 2:21 remaining. Abigail Boyer hit a pair of free throws to pull Immaculata within one point. Morgan Falcone scored on a layup to put Immaculata ahead 10-9 after the first quarter. Freshman transfer Meg Robbins had three rebounds in the quarter.
In the second quarter, Marywood started scoring a pair of early baskets to take a 13-10 lead. Reese Mullins hit two free throws, and Abigail Lentowski scored on a layup with 6:14 remaining to pull Immaculata back to within two points. Tessa Liberatoscioli scored a layup to tie the score at 16-16. The teams would exchange the lead multiple times with Immaculata getting three-pointers from Abigail Boyer and Morgan Falcone. Olvia Ettorre scored late on a driving layup for Immaculata as the Mighty Macs trailed 30-28 at the half.
The Mighty Macs scored the first four points in the third quarter to take a 32-30 lead. Tessa Liberatoscioli had a pair of steals in the quarter and a layup as Immaculata took a 37-35 lead with 3:44 remaining. Immaculata would get baskets from Meg Robbins and Olivia Ettorre as the third quarter ended with Marywood leading 42-41.
In the fourth quarter, Reese Mullins took over the game, scoring 13 consecutive points for Immaculata. With Immaculata trailing 49-45 with 6:00 remaining in the game, Mullins scored on a layup to pull Immaculata within two points. Mullins gave Immaculata the lead with the lead with a three-pointer with 5:14 remaining. After Marywood regained the lead at 51-50, Mullins gave the Mighty Macs the lead for good with another three-pointer with 1:18 remaining. She would help Immaculata close out the game with another jumper and hitting 3-of-4 from the free throw line as the Macs earned the win 60-53.
Immaculata was led by Reese Mullins with 20 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, with three rebounds and two blocked shots. Tessa Liberatoscioli registered a double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, a blocked shot, and five steals. Abigail Lentowski had nine points and three rebounds. Morgan Falcone had seven points and three rebounds, and Abigail Boyer had seven points.
Liberatoscioli's 78 steals are now the second-most in one season in program history, one behind the record of 79. Tonight, she passed her former coach Chrissy Esbensen-Rhine (2009-10), and Mackie Fitzgerald (2013-14) who each had 74 steals.
Up Next:
The Immaculata women's basketball team (11-9, 4-2 Atlantic East) will return home to Alumnae Hall on Saturday, February 3rd when they host Marymount University. Tipoff is 1:00 PM
