IMMACULATA, PA - The Cabrini University women's basketball team couldn't overcome a strong opening half from the hosting Immaculata University Mighty Macs as they fell by a 66-56 final in the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) semifinal.

The hosts outscored the Cavs 40-24 in the first half, while shooting over 62-percent from the field through two quarters.

Junior Miranda Liebtag paced the offense with a career high 22 points and a team high three steals. Freshman Giana Rullo recorded her third double-double of the season as she netted 15 points and 10 boards. Graduate student Ashley Tutzauer rounded out the Cavs with more than five points as the junior paired eight points and five rebounds. 
 
The Mighty Macs opened the game on a 14-3 run through six and a half minutes of play and claimed an 18-9 lead at quarters end. Six points from Liebtag, including a three ball, highlighted the Cavs first quarter action. 

Immaculata continued to press in the second as they opened up a 17 point advantage thanks to a 13-5 run to open the second frame, 31-14. The two teams traded basked for the remaining four minutes of the first half as the Cavs narrowly outscored the Mighty Macs 10-9 but went into the break down, 40-24.

The Mighty Macs limited the Cavs to 9-for-28 (32-percent) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including just 3-for-14 in the first quarter.

The two teams traded baskets for the opening three minutes of the second half before Cabrini went on a 9-2 run sparked by a pair of layups from Rullo. Immaculata tacked on five of the final six points in the third to maintain the double digit advantage headed into the fourth quarter, 50-36.

Liebtag and Rullo combined for nine points in a 9-2 spurt to open the final quarter as the Blue and White's mounted a valiant comeback attempt, trimming the score to 52-45 with three minutes to play. Morgan Falcone ended the Cavs run with shot from beyond the arc and the Mighty Macs made 9-of-12 free throw attempts to end the game as they secured a trip to the Atlantic East Conference final with the above mentioned 66-56 victory.
 
Falcone led Immaculata with a team high 17 points and added seven rebounds. Theresa Kearney and Abigail Lentowski also finished in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

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