Immaculata Women's Basketball vs Neumann
Atlantic East Conference Championship Game
Saturday, March 1| 2:00 PM
Alumnae Hall| Immaculata, Pa.
 
GAME LINKS: WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
THE STORYLINE

• The Immaculata women's basketball team (21-3, 10-0 AEC) hosts Neumann University on Saturday in the Atlantic East Conference Championship Game at Alumnae Hall.
• The Mighty Macs advanced to Saturday's Championship after defeating Marywood 69-48 in their AEC Semifinal on Wednesday at Alumnae Hall.
• Neumann (16-9, 6-4 AEC) advanced to Saturday's Championship after defeating #2 seed Marymount 60-57 in their AEC Semifinal on Wednesday in Arlington, Va.
• It will be a local battle between the two long time rivals located about 15 miles from each other for the AEC title.
• With the two-time defending champions Marymount out, there will be a new champion crowned for 2024-25.

THE SERIES

• Immaculata and Neumann will be meeting for the 71st time in their series that began in 1992.
• Immaculata is 25-25 all-time vs Neumann.
• The rivals will be meeting in the post season competition for the eighth time. Immaculata is 3-4 all-time in post season meetings with Neumann. Below are some memorable games.
• On February 26, 2011, Immaculata fell to Neumann 66-60 at Neumann in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship Game. Current IU assistant coach Chelsea Turgeon (McTigue) scored 14 points for Immaculata. Former IU head coach Chrissy Rhine (Esbensen) led Immaculata that day with 16 points.
• On February 26, 2014, Immaculata advanced to the CSAC Championship defeating #2 seed Neumann on the road in the semifinals 60-53. Current IU Head Coach Brittany Whalen (Merkle) registered a double-double scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Sara Smith led the Mighty Macs by scoring 27 points.
• On February 18, 2019, in the first AEC Quarterfinals #5 Seed Immaculata defeated #4 Neumann on the road 60-56 to advance to the AEC Semifinals. Amber Ballinger scored 19 points, and Brielle Rigo scored 18 points.
• On February 21, 2024, Immaculata fell to Neumann 64-54 at home in the AEC Semifinals. Tessa Liberatoscioli and Morgan Falcone each scored 14 points for Immaculata. Lauren Klieber of Neumann led all scorers with 17 points.

MIGHTY MAC NOTES

• Reese Mullins led Immaculata in scoring this season averaging 15.7 points per game and finished third in the Atlantic East in scoring. She scored double figures in 20 games and had six double-doubles. Mullins was named AEC Player of the Week three times this season. She led all scorers with 16 points in the Semifinal win over Marywood.
• Abigail Boyer broke out in her senior season, averaging 10.3 points per game and earning a pair of AEC Player of Week honors. Boyer hit 42 three-pointers and led the AEC averaging 1.8 three-pointers per game. She had career highs in rebounds with 79, assists with 64, and steals with 43. Boyer scored seven points with one three-pointer in Wednesday's Semifinal win.
• Tessa Liberatoscioli averaged 10 points per game, with 120 rebounds, 52 assists, and leads the AEC in steals for a second straight season with 86. Tessa was named AEC Defensive Player of the Week three times this season. Tessa scored three points, with four rebounds, and five steals in the Semifinal win over Marywood.
• Carly Coleman had an outstanding rookie season for Immaculata averaging 10.3 points per game, with a team high 210 rebounds, 26 blocked shots, and 51 steals. Coleman registered eight double doubles. She was second in the AEC in rebounds per game, averaging 8.8. Coleman was named AEC Defensive Player of the Week, AEC Offensive Player of the Week, and was named to the Weekly Honor Roll five times this season. Coleman had her eighth double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, with two assists, three blocked shots and five steals in Wednesday's Semifinal win over Marywood.
• Olivia Ettorre started in 23 out of 24 games for Immaculata averaging 7.3 points per game, and 2.6 rebounds per game. Ettorre had 32 assists and was third on the team in blocked shots with 19. Ettorre scored 11 points hitting a pair of clutch three-pointers in the third quarter surge for Immaculata in their Semifinal win over Marywood.
• Riley Cassidy played a key role in her first season with Immaculata averaging 7.8 points per game off the bench. Cassidy finished second on the team in three-pointers with 25. Cassidy scored 11 points and hit a pair of three-pointers for Immaculata in their Semifinal win over Marywood.
• Alyssa Long was a strong contributor to the Mighty Macs success in 2024-25. The former NCAA Division I lacrosse All-American brought a diligent competitive edge to the Mighty Macs, with her leadership, work ethic, and tenacious defense. Coming off the bench, Long had 79 rebounds, 68 assists, and 34 steals for the Mighty Macs. Long had a season-best eight points, with eight rebounds, all eight of them being defensive rebounds, with six assists, and one steal vs Marywood on Wednesday.

 
SCOUTING NEUMANN

• Neumann advanced to the Championship Game coming from 15 points down at halftime to defeat Marymount 60-57 in their Semifinal at Converse Family Fieldhouse at Marymount. Their second win at Marymount in the past two weeks.
• Neumann is 11-2 in road games this season.
• Neumann overcame the loss of star player Lauren Klieber who sustained a season-ending injury in late December to earn the third seed in the AEC Tournament. Several players stepped up their roles this season for the Knights.
• Emily DuPont has led the Knights this season on both ends of the court. Starting all 25 games, DuPont is averaging 16.8 points per game, and 6.6 rebounds per game. She leads the conference in blocked shots 41 and is second in steals with 68. DuPont led all scorers in their semifinal scoring 26 points.
• Aubrie Breisblatt is averaging 11.3 points per game, and 4.9 rebounds per game. Breisblatt scored six points in their semifinal win over Marymount.
• Jacqueline Wardrop is averaging 8.1 points per game, and 4.4 rebounds per game. Wardrop scored 13 points in their semifinal win at Marymount.
• Lindsay Holden averaged 6.3 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game. Holden scored eight points in their semifinal win at Marymount.
• As a team Neumann is shooting 40.7% from the field, 25.2% from behind the arc, and 72% from the stripe.

 
 
HEAD COACH BRITTANY WHALEN ON THE ATLANTIC EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

"We spoke about this last August when our players returned to campus," stated Head Coach Brittany Whalen. "Our goal from the start has been to host the Conference Championship on our home floor. That's where we play best. We've worked extremely hard to put ourselves in this position and we're prepared to give an all-out effort tomorrow in front of our home crowd."
 
When asked about Neumann's strong record in road games, and what her team needs to do to be successful in tomorrow's Whalen explained "Neumann is a skilled team and are very well coached. We've seen numerous times this season that they are dangerous down the stretch in games, so we understand the importance of not letting up. Our mentality all season long has been to remain uncomfortable and never settle, which is something that will help us in this match-up.
 
"We're extremely excited for this opportunity and ready to put up a fight in the championship game," concluded Whalen. ". I'm so proud of the resilience and grit our girls have demonstrated. They deserve every ounce of recognition for the success they've had this season as a result of the work they put in day in and out. Basketball aside, it's been amazing to see the relationships they have formed with one another. It is truly a family-based atmosphere and something that makes this program so special. 
 
LOCAL TIES BETWEEN THE TEAMS

• While the two schools are rivals, there are many ties between the two schools.
• Immaculata's Tessa Liberatoscioli and Neumann's Emily DuPont were high school teammates at Great Valley High School. Liberatoscioli grew up playing basketball with DuPont and Neumann's Lauren Klieber.
• Immaculata's Alyssa Long was coached in high school basketball at Springfield High School and in AAU basketball by Neumann Assistant Coach Kacy Cellucci (McNichol).
• Neumann's Aubrie Breisblatt' s brother Kade is a pitcher on the Immaculata baseball team.

 
UP NEXT

• The winner of the Atlantic East Conference Championship earns the AEC's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
• The NCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Tournament Selection Show is on Monday, March 3^rd at 2:30 p.m. streamed on NCAA.com.