ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester women's basketball team was back in the Leonard Center this evening for a MIAC contest against Bethel. The game was close through the half, but the Royals pulled ahead and took the game 61-44. Macalester is now 4-3 (2-2 MIAC).

The Royals got off to a quick 5-1 lead before junior guard/forwards Katherine Norquist (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep) and Peyton Starks (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) combined to close the gap to 5-4. The Royals increased their lead back up to 11-5 with 2:15 on the clock. Senior guard Caitlin Panos (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) knocked down an important three-pointer, assisted by first year guard Mary Daley (Cumberland, R.I./Bishop Feehan), to close out the first quarter only down three, 11-8.

Starks knocked in five and senior guard Andrea Palmen (Kenosha, Wis./The Prairie School) banked her own bucket to give the Scots the lead 15-11, with 7:25 on the clock. However, the Royals answered with a 12-0 run to lead 23-15. The Scots were able to come back and take the lead with 52 seconds left in the half. Junior guard Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) knocked down both free throws for the lead. The teams attacked at both ends of the court for the final seconds, with Bethel taking a slight 27-26 lead into the break.

In the third, the Royals extended their lead to 46-28. Bethel was able to increase their lead to as much as 21 in the fourth quarter, 55-34 with 5:14 on the clock. The Scots chipped away at the gap, with Palmen banking two free throws and Panos hitting another three, but the Scots fell 61-44.

The Scots shot 26.5% from the field compared to the Royals' 40%. Starks led the team with 10 points, three steals, and six rebounds. Norquist also had a game high six rebounds while Palmen went 5-for-8 from the line.

Macalester travels to St. Peter, Minn. on Wednesday Dec 6 to compete against Gustavus. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.