ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester women's basketball team continued its string of MIAC games tonight, traveling to St. Catherine's to take on the Wildcats. The second quarter proved to be a turning point in the game, and Macalester unfortunately came out on the wrong side of the 68-52 score line. Macalester now drops to 2-4 (1-2 MIAC).
Both teams started strong defensively, not allowing any points for the first four minutes. Sophomore guard/forward
Peyton Starks (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) scored the first four points for Macalester to tie the Wildcats with 4:20 on the clock. Senior guard
Solana Cushing (Minneapolis, Minn./South) and Starks continued to sink buckets for Macalester and the game was tied 10-10 after the first quarter. In the second, the Scots started strong with a three-pointer from Starks, but the Wildcats limited Macalester after that, taking a 24-15 lead into halftime.
Macalester junior guard
Andrea Palmen (Kenosha, Wis./The Prairie School) started the third quarter by knocking down a pair of free throws for the Scots. However, the Wildcats would extend their lead to 14 points, 31-17 with 7:36 remaining in the quarter. Cushing sank a three to reduce St. Catherine's lead. Senior forward
Emma LaFrenz (Edina, Minn./Edina) completed an and-one with 4:19 on the clock to bring the Scots within eight, 37-29. LaFrenz would make another layup in the quarter, but the Wildcats led 47-31 going into the final 10 minutes.
LaFrenz knocked in two free throws and Cushing sank another three-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 50-36 Wildcats. The Scots continued to fight, however, the Wildcats took their largest lead of the game 60-40 with 5:41 remaining. LaFrenz completed another and-one and went on a 10-point run for Macalester. St. Catherine's however was able to hold on to the lead, and defeat the Scots 68-52.
LaFrenz had a fantastic night, registering her third double-double of the season. She led Macalester with 21 points and 16 rebounds. She also had three assists and two blocks. Starks also put-up double digits for the Scots with 17 points. Macalester made 13-of-14 free throws in tonight's game.
Macalester's next game will be Saturday Dec 3. The Scots play Gustavus in St. Peter, MN at 3:00 p.m.
