ST. PAUL, Minn.- The Macalester College women's basketball team fell just short in completing a comeback over Carleton College. The Scots were edged 61-53 at home after tying the game up late in the third quarter. Macalester is now 1-20 (0-16 MIAC) after today's loss. The Knights improve to 8-13 (5-11 MIAC).
 
The game opened up with Carleton receiving a technical foul and the Scots sending senior guard Holly Hull (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) to the free throw line. Hull knocked down 1-of-2 free throws. Soon, Macalester took an early 3-0 lead before the Knights went on a 14-2 run to make the score 16-5. Carleton took a 22-9 lead into the second quarter.
 
Macalester answered by scoring the first five points of the second quarter and lessening the deficit to 22-15. The Knights took a 30-21 lead into halftime despite shooting 2-of-16 from the field during the second quarter.
 
Macalester stayed in striking distance and found themselves on attacking the basket to pull with in four points coming out of halftime. Both teams then started to go shot for shot as the Knights were barely holding onto their lead. Hull knocked down a huge layup to make the score 32-32 with 6:32 left in the third quarter. Carleton scored four quick points and junior guard Justine Barraza (Burbank, Calif./Harvard Westlake) responded with a fast-break layup after sophomore guard Celine Sabbagh (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) blocked a shot on the other end.
 
The Scots entered the fourth quarter down 44-34. Junior guard Luci Swift (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins), junior forward Kayla Togneri (Ventura Calif./Ventura), and Barraza scored six points to make the score 44-40. After the Knights responded with taking a 46-40 lead, first year guard Solana Cushing (Minneapolis, Minn./South) made a big three pointer to bring the Scots within three points. Swift then turned around and made a nice jumper to make the score 46-45 with just under seven minutes left in the game.
 
Junior forward Katherine Podoll (San Geronimo,Calif./Sir Francis Drake) made 1-of-2 free throws to make the score 55-53 in favor of Carleton. The Knights then used timely shooting and a perfect 6-of-6 shooting at the charity stripe to put the game away.
 
Barraza scored a game high 17 points while adding two assists, two steals, and three rebounds. Hull added nine points and six rebounds. Podoll also totaled seven points on the day.
 
Macalester resumes MIAC play Wednesday, February 12, as the team takes on College of Saint Benedict on the road at 7:00 p.m.
 
Box score