ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College women's basketball team shot 61.8 percent from the floor in the first half to cruise to an 83-68 triumph over Hamline University in a MIAC game Saturday afternoon in the Leonard Center. The Scots improve to 9-6 overall and 3-5 in league play, while the Pipers drop to 5-10, 2-6 MIAC.

Senior guard Lauren Clamage (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest Acad.) provided the spark early for Macalester, scoring 15 points while making three three-pointers to help the Scots take a 32-18 lead after one quarter. Two more treys from Clamage pushed the lead to 20, 45-25 with 6:15 left in the first half. Macalester scored the final five points of the second quarter to take a commanding 56-35 advantage into the halftime break.

The Scots made 21-of-34 from the field, including 7-of-12 from three-point range. Clamage scorched the nets for 24 points in the half and was 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.

In the third quarter, Macalester extended its lead to as many as 27 points, eventually taking a 73-50 edge into the final quarter. Hamline was able to make the final a 15-point defeat by closing out the game with a 9-2 run. The Scots ended up shooting 46.3 percent from the field for the game while holding the Pipers to 33.8 percent.

Clamage finished with 27 points, marking the fifth straight game in which she has led her team in scoring. Junior center Regan Fruh (Helena, Mont./Helena) tallied 21 points, seven rebounds and two blocks while making 9-of-12 from the floor. Senior forward Park Masterson (Poway, Calif./Poway) secured 12 rebounds in the win, with junior forward Leah Gray (San Rafael, Calif./Branson School) contributing four blocks to go with six points and four rebounds. Alaina Quaranta paced Hamline with 17 points and five steals.

Macalester plays the first of four consecutive road games on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at Augsburg College. The MIAC game starts at 7:00 p.m. in Minneapolis, Minn.