Box Score
ASTON, Pa – The Neumann University women's basketball defeated Immaculata University in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) semifinal action, 71-56, Saturday afternoon.
Neumann, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, will host No. 2 seeded Gwynedd-Mercy tomorrow for the CSAC Title. This is the first CSAC Championship Game appearance for the Knights.
Senior Brittany Whetts led the Knights offense with 24 points and eight rebounds. Katie Young netted 11 points and pulled in nine rebounds.
The Mighty Macs had four players in double-figures. Kelly Brown and Bridget Welz each scored 11 points. Chrissy Esbensen and Chelsea McTigue added 10 points each.
The first seven minutes of the game saw the teams trading baskets, with neither team stretching a lead to more than three points. With the game tied at twelve Neumann went on a 14-5 run that ate up seven minutes on the clock to take a 26-17 advantage. Whetts gave the Knights their largest lead of the half, 37-19, on a lay-up with 3:16 remaining in the half. The Knights held a 29-23 advantage at the half.
Neumann kept Immaculata at an arm's length the entire second half, not allowing the Mighty Macs any closer than 10 points. The Knights continued to control the pace and spread the scoring around to several different players in the second half. Neumann extended their lead to as many as 19 points with sixteen minutes left in regulation. Immaculata traded baskets with the Knights, but could not chip away at the lead. Esbensen made two the foul line to cap a Mighty Macs 7-4 run, to cut the advantage to 63-53 with 5:52 remaining. Neumann controlled the final five minutes of play extending the lead back to fifteen points. The Knights picked up the 71-56 victory and advances to the CSAC Championship game.
Gwynedd-Mercy defeated Centenary College 94-59 in semi-final play to advance to the championship game. The Griffins and the Knights will play tomorrow for the 2009-10 CSAC Championship Title tomorrow afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. in the Mirenda Center.
