true Gwynedd-Mercy 60, Immaculata 58
 
BOX SCORE

IMMACULATA, PA.  -- Gwynedd-Mercy defeated Immaculata Monday night 60-58 to pick up a huge CSAC road win to improve to 6-1 in the league and notch their fifth win in a row.  CSAC Player of the Week Natasha Matthews (Norristown, Pa. / Norristown) contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds off the bench to help Gwynedd to the victory as both teams saw 10 lead changes throughout the contest.

The first half opened up with the Griffins (10-6, 6-1 CSAC) on a 10-4 run with sophomore Lauren Smith (Philadelphia, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan) knocking down a pair of three-pointers.  Immaculata would follow with a 7-0 run when Katie Durkin hit a trey to give the Mighty Macs an 11-10 lead.  Gwynedd responded with Matthews scoring seven points on the Griffins next four scoring possessions giving Gwynedd a 20-15 lead.  A Bridget Welz three-pointer cut the Griffins lead to three but Bryn Cotteta (Norristown, Pa. / Norristown) connected on a three on the other end of the floor to improve the Griffins top their largest lead of the half to six points.  Gwynedd forced Immaculata to fourteen first half turnovers, twelve of which came off of steals.  Inside the Griffins were able to block four shots in the first stanza.  The Griffins were able to connect on free throw line at the end of the half to give them a 32-28 halftime advantage.

The second half was a game of momentum for both teams as each team was able to put together scoring runs. Immaculata (7-8, 5-2 CSAC) used a 7-1 spurt to open up the second half to take a 35-33 lead.  Minutes after, Gwynedd would use a 6-0 run of their own to reclaim a 43-38 edge.  After the Mighty Macs came right back to take a 45-43 lead, Matthews layup inside would tie the game at 45-45 with ten minutes left in the contest. Immaculata would build their largest lead of the game of four 55-51. 

The Griffins would battle back to tie the game at 56-56 on a Jess Rotella (Clifton Heights, Pa. / Archbishop Prendergast) three-point play.  After a defensive stop, Rotella would then knock down two free throws to give Gwynedd a 58-56 lead with 2:38 showing.  Welz would cut the lead to one with 54 seconds left.  Rotella was able to knock down one of two attempts at the line to give the Griffins a two-point lead with sixteen seconds left.  The Mighty Macs had three opportunities to score at the end of the game but the Griffins defense held strong with Matthews pulling down a rebound as time expired.

Gwynedd shot 34.5% (19-of-55), knocking down four three pointers and making eighteen free throws.
Rotella scored 13 on the night and added four steals.  Immaculata shot 37.5% (21-of-56) and made four three pointers as well, and hit 12-of-18 from the charity stripe.  Welz led the Mighty Macs with 16 points; Kelly Brown and Chrissy Esbensen added 14 and 10 respectively.

Immaculata outrebounded Gwynedd 42-41.  Leah Kuczynki pulled down 11 and added nine points for the Mighty Macs. Freshman Shea Wassel (North Wales, Pa. / Lansdale Catholic) pulled down nine caroms and added 11 points and three blocks.

The Griffins now continue to Radnor on Wednesday when they take on Cabrini College for a 6 p.m. tip-off.