IMMACULATA, Pa. – The Neumann University women's basketball team battled Immaculata University to the end but fell 82-72 on Saturday afternoon in Atlantic East Conference action.
 
Jenna Aponik led four Knights in double-figures with 17 points and added five steals. Jess Aponik tallied 15 points and seven rebounds. Emily DuPont netted 14 points and Bri Gautier added 13 points.
 
Neumann came out on fire and scored the first seven points of the game. Immaculata pulled within four, 14-10, with 3:12 left in the quarter. The Knights answered with the final nine points of the quarter for a 23-10 advantage after the first 10 minutes.
 
The Mighty Macs scored the first 13 points of the second quarter to tie the game at 23. Jess Aponik connected on two free throws to stop the Immaculata run. The teams were knotted at 29 with 3:21 on the clock, but the Mighty Macs wrapped up the half on an 8-3 run to take a 37-32 lead into the break.
 
The Knights scored the first six points of the third quarter to take a 38-37 edge. The teams remained close throughout the rest of the quarter with Neumann holding a slight edge. The Knights took a 54-51 advantage into the final quarter.
 
The first half of the fourth quarter featured three lead changes and five tied scores. Tied at 65 with 4:27 left in regulation, the Mighty Macs went on a 9-1 run over the next two minutes for a 74-66 lead. The teams traded points and Immaculata went 4-of-4 from the line in the final minute to hold off any comeback attempt from Neumann.
 
Neumann (5-14, 3-5 Atlantic East) returns home for the first of four straight at the Mirenda Center on Wednesday when it hosts Marymount. Action is slated to get underway at 6:00 PM.