Box Score
SCRANTON, Pa. – The sixth-seeded Immaculata University women’s basketball team propelled itself into the Colonial States Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals with a 61-48 win at third-seeded Marywood University on Tuesday night in quarterfinal action.
Immaculata (16-9) ended Marywood’s 13-game home winning streak dating back to the Pacers’ final contest of the 2008-09 season, and it could not have come at a more perfect time. Immaculata travels to top-seeded Neumann on Thursday night at 7 p.m. for a CSAC semifinal against the Knights. Marywood (18-7) saw its season come to an end in the first round of the conference tournament for the second year in a row.
The Mighty Macs were led by Leah Kuczynski’s double-double performance of 13 points and 14 rebounds. Chrissy Esbensen and Chelsea McTigue paced all scorers with 17 points apiece. Bridget Welz finished with eight points, three assists and four steals. Kelly Brown, McTigue and Esbensen all grabbed five rebounds.
The game was knotted at 36-all at the 14:10 mark of the second half when Immaculata went on an 18-2 run over 7:52 to take a 16-point lead, 54-38. Esbensen and McTigue each recorded five points during the spurt as the Mighty Macs were 6-for-10 from the field and 5 of 6 at the free throw line.
Lizzy Green had the Pacers’ only points during the Mighty Macs’ stretch as she put in a layup at the 11:20 mark. For the run, Marywood was just 1 of 11 from the field and committed seven turnovers. The Pacers did not score again until 5:41 remaining as Stephanie Fusaro ended a 12-0 streak for Immaculata.
Immaculata pushed its advantage to 19 (59-40) with 3:56 left in the game and still led by the same margin with 2:37 remaining. Marywood scored the final six points of the game, but it was too late as the Pacers could not muster a comeback.
Marywood had opened the game on an 8-0 run before McTigue scored for Immaculata at the 17:28 mark to start an 11-0 spurt for the Mighty Macs, and put the visitors ahead, 11-8.
Immaculata would not trail the rest of the opening half, as the Mighty Macs led by no more than four, and the Pacers tied the contest five times. Immaculata held just a two-point lead at halftime, 28-26.
The Pacers’ took their first lead since the 16:11 mark of the first half just 3:17 into the second stanza (34-32) as Marywood came out of the locker room outscoring Immaculata, 8-4. But, that was short-lived as the Mighty Macs quickly heated up and began their key run to pull away.
Marywood’s Mariah Schaeffer had team-high honors with 14 points, while Lauren Rogan registered 11 points. Green brought down a team-best eight rebounds.
In the CSAC quarterfinal, fifth-seeded Centenary College defeated fourth-seeded Cabrini College, 67-66. Centenary travels to second-seeded Gwynedd-Mercy College on Thursday in the other CSAC semifinal matchup. The two semifinal winners will meet at the site of the higher seed on Saturday, Feb. 27 in the championship game.