ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester women's basketball team hosted Saint Mary's tonight in its second conference game of the season. The game was close at half, but Macalester pulled ahead and took the victory 72-56, for its first MIAC win of the season. The Scots are now 2-3 (1-1 MIAC).

After going down 4-0 to start the game, senior guard Solana Cushing (Minneapolis, Minn./South) and sophomore guard/forward Peyton Starks (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) would knock in baskets to tie the game. The Cardinals would retake the lead 8-4, but Cushing sank a three-pointer to put the Scots within one. Sophomore Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) then drove to the basket and completed the and-one to take the lead 10-8 with 4:22 on the clock. Macalester would retain the lead for the quarter, Starks, Norton, and senior forward Emma LaFrenz (Edina, Minn./Edina) adding to the Scots' point total. At the end of 10 minutes, the Scots had an 18-15 lead.

The Cardinals and Scots went back-and-forth on points before junior guard Andrea Palmen (Kenosha, Wis./The Prairie School) sank a three to lead 25-22. Saint Mary's overtook the Scots with 3:54 left in the half, and had a three-point lead a minute later. However, LaFrenz and Starks drove in buckets to take a one-point lead, but a pair of free throws from the Cardinals sent Macalester into halftime, down 30-29.

The third quarter began with the Cardinals increasing their lead to 35-31. The seniors LaFrenz and Cushing to tie the game at 35. Both teams continued to fight, but Starks sparked a 12-0 run for Macalester with a three-pointer with just over five minutes left in the quarter. The Scots jumped to a 49-39 lead, with first year Ellie Corbett (Austin, Texas/James Bowie) concluding the run with a three-pointer of her own. The Scots ended the third up 50-43.

Macalester continued to show its offensive power with Norton completing an and-one. Palmen and LaFrenz added to the Scots' lead, 57-45 with 7:45 left in the game. Macalester continued to hold the Cardinals' rallying attempts off, with Palmen and Cushing sinking back-to-back threes. Multiple successful free throws and a layup from Norton sealed the Macalester victory 72-56.

Starks once again led Macalester with 19 points and also registered seven rebounds. Norton also tallied seven rebounds and followed Starks with 18 points. LaFrenz earned her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Junior guard Maia Pedrosa (South San Francisco, Calif./Urban School of San Francisco) also played a key role in Macalester's offense tonight with six assists. The Scots shot 47.5% from the field and 40% from three. The Scots also sank 71.4% of their free throws against the Cardinals.
 
Macalester's next game will be on Wednesday November 30. The Scots head to Saint Catherine's to take on the Wildcats for another conference matchup. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m.