Macalester vs. Concordia statistics
Trina PaStarr (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Southwest) matched a career-best with 27 points as Macalester toppled Concordia-Moorhead in an 84-81 shootout at the Leonard Center to clinch a spot in the MIAC playoffs. The Scots improve to 13-9 overall and at 13-6 in the league, have achieved 13 MIAC wins for the first time in school history. Concordia falls to 15-7 on the season, 14-5 in the MIAC.
The six-team MIAC playoffs are set for Feb. 22-27. The Scots are making their first trip to the conference playoffs, which began in 2000-01. Already in the post-season are Gustavus, St. Benedict, Concordia, St. Thomas and Mac, while Hamline is trying to hold off St. Catherine and Bethel for the final spot.
MIAC standings
PaStarr, who also netted 27 points twice as a sophomore, was 11-for-17 from the floor and also had seven rebounds and three assists.
Danielle Johnson (Sr., DeForest, Wis. / Madison Edgewood) also had a big game for the Scots, pumping in 19 points to go along with five assists and five boards.
Ann Baltzer (Sr., Bismarck, N.D.)added 13 points and nine rebounds. This was just the second time in 13 games that Baltzer has not been the Mac scoring leader. With 1,213 career points, Baltzer needs just three points to move into the No. 4 spot on the team's all-time career scoring list.
Eartha Bell (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Breck School) contributed seven assists, nine rebounds and three steals, and
Holly Schiedermayer (So., Waupaca, Wis.) grabbed seven rebounds off the bench.
Both teams shot over 50%. Macalester took advantage of a 44-27 rebounding margin to lead 19-7 in second chance points. Mac won despite a 15-for-31 free throw effort. Concordia went 9-for-18 from behind the arc.
Five Cobbers reached double figures in scoring, led by Erica Nord with 18 points to go along with seven assists. Anna Matetich and Brittany Jossart scored 14 each.
Concordia never trailed in the first half, but led just 37-35 at the break. Macalester finally achieved its first lead at 52-51 with 13:58 to play. A 16-4 Mac run put the Scots up 56-51 and they followed that up a little later with a nine unanswered points to turn a 67-68 deficit into a 76-68 lead with 3:31 to play. The Cobs fought back but three Johnson free throws and two PaStarr free throws iced the victory.
The Scots travel to Northfield Saturday (Feb. 13) to take on St. Olaf.
