Box Score
ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University women's basketball team thrilled the home crowd in an exciting overtime victory against Colonial States Athletic Conference rivals Immaculata University 80-75 Wednesday evening.
Immaculata University came into the contest undefeated in conference play 5-0. The Knights needed the win to keep pace with the Mighty Macs. The Knights would catch the Mighty Macs on their heels from the outset, playing high pressure defense and up tempo offense. The Knights were accurate and deadly early on, as Erica Marvel drained two 3 pointers and Sami Borky drove the lane for two points to gain an 8-1 advantage. The Mighty Macs would go on a 15-8 run with Chrissy Esbensen scoring six points to tie the score at 16-16. Cecily Scavecchio hit two consecutive three pointers to start the Knights on a run that stretched itself to as many as 13 points. The Knights would take a 36-23 lead going into halftime break.
Bethany Humenik was effective driving down the lane and popping the ball out to the Knights for great looks at the basket. Erica Marvel benefitted the most scoring 11 first half points and Laura Scott found mid range opportunities for six points. The first half story came down to the defensive pressure on the ball. The Mighty Macs had great difficulty getting good looks at the basket and when they did, several three point air balls followed.
The second half was telling of each team's depth and whether the Knights could sustain the up tempo style for the whole game. With a bright start to the second half, the Knights were efficient with their inside-outside game running the lead up to as many as 17 points with 15:24 remaining in the game. Immaculata 's Bridget Welz drove the Mighty Macs back into the contest scoring eight points, as they trailed by eight points 54-46. Chrissy Esbensen scored six ensuing points, along with Brianna Duffin's two point field goal. The lead by the Knights evaporated to a three point lead 55-52 with 4:53 remaining in the game. The Knights settled for three pointers field goals during the Mighty Macs run and giving up many layup points.
Neumann kicked the lead up to six points with 1:20 remaining. The Mights Macs cut it to two points on two consecutive trips to the basket. The stat the will give concern for the Knights is the 10-21 from the free throw line and that with a three point lead with32 seconds remaining, Sami Borky missed a free throw to extend the lead. Scavecchio stepped up for the Knights to shoot two free throws with 17 seconds left in the game, but couldn't cash in. The Mighty Macs would get two three point shots and with nine seconds remaining, Chrissy Esbensen sunk the three point field goal to knot the game at 61-61.
Somehow, after the second intermission, the Knights came out flying with energy. Nobody seemed to tell the Knights that they had lost their momentum. Laura Scott sunk the first basket to regain the edge the Knights had all game long, until the final moments of the game. Bethany Humenik entered the overtime period scoring only four points. Humenik was cued to step up and as a result, she took over the game scoring 10 of the 19 overtime points. Sami Borky was steady all game and contributed seven “pure hussle” points.
Where the Knights didn't excel in free throws, they certainly dominated the boards with 49 rebounds to Immaculata's 37 rebounds. Laura Scott was terrific with 16 points and nine rebounds, Sami Borky pulled the double double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, Bethany Humenik controlled the game with seven assists, eight rebounds and 14 points, while Erica Marvel slung in 14 points.
The Knights 5-1 (CSAC) play at Notre Dame of Maryland January 14th at 1 p.m.
