St. Paul, Minn. – The Macalester College women's basketball team played its 16^th game of the season this afternoon, traveling to Winona to take on the Cardinals of St. Mary's. The Scots played an impressive game, having the lead for over 34 minutes, defeating the Cardinals 64-57. Macalester is now 8-8 (6-7 MIAC).
 
Senior guard Celine Sabbagh (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) set the tone for the Scots, knocking down a pair of free throws. The Cardinals would get ahead of the Scots, but a three-pointer from junior guard Solana Cushing (Minneapolis, Minn./South) would see the Scots up 5-4 with 5:37 on the clock. Her three would start a 10-0 run for the Scots, with first year guard/forward Peyton Starks (St. Louis, MO./John Burroughs School) rounding out the run with an and-one play. St. Mary's would fight back, and end the quarter within three of the Scots, 14-11.
 
St. Mary's rallied in the beginning of the second quarter, going on an 8-2 run and put themselves up three. However, Starks and first year guard/forward Katherine Norquist (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep) would answer back quickly with two layups for the Scots, taking the lead again, 20-19, with 5:47 left in the half. Starks would score four of the next six points for the Scots, taking a 26-21 lead into the break.
 
Cushing would start off the second half by dropping two three-pointers. The Cardinals would tally one of their own to start the half as well, bringing the Scots' lead to eight. With 7:54 on the clock, St. Mary's would sink a basket, but the Scots would in turn start a 10-5 run, with Sabbagh earning four points at the end of the run, giving the Scots their largest lead of the night, 42-29, with 4:23 on the clock. The Cardinals would rally to go on an 11-5 run, but were still at a seven-point deficit against the Scots going into the final 10 minutes.
 
The last quarter was a back-and-forth battle, with each team sinking baskets and playing good defense. Junior forward Emma LaFrenz (Edina, Minn./Edina) would put up six points in the quarter, while Sabbagh would sink five of the Scots' 17 points in the quarter. The Scots got the victory 64-57 over the Cardinals.
 
Starks led the team with 15 points, seven rebounds and registered a season high three steals. Sabbagh and Cushing would each make their mark on the court, recording 13 points apiece. Cushing knocked down three three-pointers while Sabbagh registered six rebounds. LaFrenz would also tally six rebounds with 12 points. Macalester shot 83.3% from the free throw line.
 
Macalester's next game is Wednesday, January 26. The Scots will host Concordia in the Leonard Center at 5:15 p.m.