ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College women's basketball team began its MIAC schedule with a 68-49 defeat to Concordia College Tuesday night in the Leonard Center. The Scots are now 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play, while the Cobbers improve to 2-2, 1-0 MIAC.

Macalester opened with a 9-4 run, getting four points from junior guard Peyton Starks (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) and a conventional three-point play by junior forward Katherine Norquist (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep). The Scots held an 11-8 edge when Concordia closed out the first quarter with a 15-8 run to lead, 23-19. Norquist tallied eight points in the first quarter for Macalester.

Momentum stayed with the visitors into the second quarter, as the Cobbers pushed their lead up to 14, 37-23 with 2:33 on the clock. A pair of free throws by Starks and a basket from first year guard Sydnee Smith (Gainesville, Va./Patriot) cut the deficit to 37-27 at the halftime break.

After Concordia increased its lead to 42-27 early in the third quarter, the Scots made a push with six straight points on a basket by Norquist and free throws from Starks and junior guard Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) to come within nine points, 42-33 with 6:13 left in the quarter. The Cobbers responded with a 12-3 run for a commanding 54-36 advantage late in the third quarter. Macalester never came closer than 13 points the rest of the way, as Concordia's lead grew to as many as 26 before closing out the 68-49 win.

Macalester shot 26.7 percent from the field for the game compared to 33.8 percent for the Cobbers. Starks finished with 16 points while shooting 10-of-11 from the free throw line. Norquist added 14 points to go with five rebounds and two steals, while Smith contributed seven points and a game-high nine rebounds. Carlee Sieben led Concordia with 19 points.

The Scots continue MIAC play with a road game at St. Olaf. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in Northfield, Minn.