NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Macalester College women's basketball team battled Carleton College on the road before losing the MIAC game, 65-57 Saturday afternoon at West Gym. The Scots are now 1-10 overall and 0-6 in conference play, while the Knights improve to 5-6, 2-4 MIAC.

After Carleton took a 19-10 lead through the first quarter, Macalester came alive in the second quarter. Seven points from junior forward Katherine Podoll (San Geronimo, Calif./Sir Francis Drake) and five points from first year forward Emma LaFrenz (Edina, Minn./Edina) ignited a 17-5 run that put the Scots on top, 27-24. A three-pointer with three seconds left tied the score at 27-27 heading into halftime. Macalester was 8-of-14 from the field in the second quarter while holding the Knights to three field goals on 11 attempts.

Carleton opened the second half by scoring the first five points to lead 32-27. The Scots responded with a 7-1 run capped by a three from junior guard Justine Barraza (Burbank, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) that gave Macalester a 34-33 edge. With the score tied at 36-36, first year guard Solana Cushing (Minneapolis, Minn./South) drained a three at the four-minute mark for a 36-33 lead. After another basket by Cushing made the score 41-36 Scots, the Knight tallied the final five points of the third quarter to tie the score at 41 heading into the final quarter.

Again Carleton started the quarter with five straight points for a 46-41 lead. Baskets by Podoll and junior forward Kayla Togneri (Ventura, Calif./Ventura) brought Macalester to within one, 46-45 with 7:18 left. Five straight points sparked an 11-3 Carleton run to put the hosts ahead, 57-48 with 1:10 on the clock. Podoll hit a three and Barraza picked up a steal and two free throws to cut the deficit to 57-53 with 47 seconds left, but the Knights hit their free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

Podoll, who was playing in her first game of the season after studying abroad for the first semester, was 6-of-10 from the field and made three three-pointers for a team-best 17 points. Barraza registered 14 points before fouling out late in the game, and sophomore guard Celine Sabbagh (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) added nine points and four rebounds. Katie Chavez led all players with 23 points.

Macalester continues MIAC play with a home game against Concordia College on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Game time is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. in the Leonard Center.