WINONA, Minn. – The Macalester College women's basketball team dropped a close game on the road to Saint Mary's University, 70-68 in overtime Wednesday evening at Saint Mary's Gym. The Scots are now 1-9 overall and 0-5 in the league, while the Cardinals improve to 1-5, 1-3 MIAC.

Macalester started the game well, opening with a 12-4 run before taking a 17-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The lead was still seven, 24-17 with 6:58 left in the second quarter when Saint Mary's used a 13-6 run to tie the score at 30-30 at the end of the half. Junior guard Luci Swift (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) scored 10 points in nine first-half minutes, while junior guard Katie Sowerby (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais) tallied nine points.

A conventional three-point play by junior guard Justine Barraza (Burbank, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) to start the second half sparked a 12-2 run that put the Scots on top, 42-32 with 7:19 on the clock. Sophomore guard Celine Sabbagh (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) scored seven points in the run. Later in the third quarter, a pair of free throws by Sabbagh gave Macalester its largest lead of the game, 47-36 with 2:19 left in the quarter. The Cardinals answered with five consecutive points to close out the quarter and make the score 47-41 Scots heading into the fourth quarter.

First year forward Emma LaFrenz (Edina, Minn./Edina) made the first basket of the fourth quarter to give Macalester a 49-41 lead. Eight straight points by Saint Mary's, including six from Ewelina Schlomann, tied the game at 49-49 with 6:47 remaining. Baskets by Swift and junior forward Rose Lutz (Minneapolis, Minn./South), plus four points from senior guard Holly Hull (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) helped the Scots build a 57-51 edge with 4:10 to play. After the Cardinals scored the next four points, Barraza made a layup to make the score 59-55 with a minute on the clock. SMU's Claire Patterson made 1-of-2 at the free throw line, then following a missed shot by the Scots, Brooklyn Paulson tied the game at 59-59 with a three-pointer with 20 seconds left. Barraza's attempt at the buzzer didn't fall, and the game went to overtime.

Saint Mary's never trailed in the extra session, taking an early 63-60 lead. A free throw by Lutz and two free throws from Barraza tied the score at 63-63 at the 2:08 mark. After an empty possession for each team, a Schlomann free throw followed by a basket by Shayley Vesel put the Cardinals on top, 66-63 with under a minute to play. Swift made a jumper to make it a one-point game, but Saint Mary's hit four free throws around a missed field goal by Macalester. A three-pointer by first year guard Solana Cushing (Minneapolis, Minn./South) at the buzzer was not enough to prevent the hosts from earning their first win of the season.

Four Scots scored in double-figures, led by Swift, who matched her career high with 14 points. Barraza finished with 13 points, while Sowerby and Sabbagh each scored 11 points. Lutz turned in a strong game off the bench, grabbing a career-best 10 rebounds to go with three points. Schlomann led the Cardinals with 15 points.

Macalester doesn't play until a Jan. 4 meeting at Carleton, beginning at 3:00 p.m. in Northfield, Minn.