FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Spalding finished the Cruzin' Classic on a high note with 61-57 triumph over Immaculata, Sunday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles now set 3-7 overall as they return to Kentucky. The Mighty Macs fell to 5-6 after their defeat.

TURNING POINT
Spalding started off hot, scoring the first five points of the contest. Three of those points came courtesy of Natalie Fichter, the newest member of the SU 1,000-point club. The lead stayed with the Golden Eagles in the first quarter until a layup with 16 seconds left gave Immaculata a one-point lead.

The game stayed closer in the second frame. Spalding was able to build a five-point lead at 4:40 thanks to an Alyssa Hitch layup, but a 6-0 Mighty Mac run flipped the lead to the SU foes.

The Golden Eagles came into the third quarter with a three-point lead and built it to six with a Hitch 3-pointer less than a minute into the frame. SU kept the energy up and pushed out to an 11-point lead using a 9-0 run. Spalding held on to the lead for the duration of the quarter. 

Things got dicey for the Golden Eagle squad in the fourth quarter as Immaculata mounted a comeback. The Mighty Macs cut the deficit to a one-score margin five times in the final quarter. With five seconds left, two successful free throws by Fichter sealed the 61-57 win for the Bluegrass State team.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES

• Natalie Fichter led the team in scoring with 19 points. It was her fifth consecutive double-digit performance.
• Fichter also nabbed her second double-double of the season with 10 rebounds.
• Freshman Alyssa Hitch scored 10 as the only other Spalding player to register double-digits in scoring.
• Sharing is caring: Kailey Reed had the most assists of any Golden Eagle this season with six.
• Jacie Chesser was key for the SU defense as she tallied four blocks.
• Spalding held Immaculata to the lowest marks of any opponent this year in points (57) and free throw percentage (46.7 percent). They also held them to 32.3 shooting from the field, which is the second-lowest of any SU foe this season.

ARROW SAFETY PLAYER OF THE GAME
Alyssa Hitch had the best game of her collegiate career en route to her first Arrow Safety Player of the Game award this season. The freshman had career-highs in points, rebounds, and minutes played.

NEXT FOR SPALDING
A New Year's Eve home matchup awaits the Golden Eagles. SU hosts Anderson for a 1 p.m. tip on Saturday, December 31.