ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The Macalester women's basketball team took on Saint Benedict this afternoon in another MIAC road matchup. The game was close the whole way, but the Scots got just edged out, 66-58 when the final whistle blew. Macalester is now 4-5 (2-4 MIAC).

The Bennies opened the game with a 9-2 run. The Scots quickly responded. Junior guard/ forward Katherine Norquist (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep) started the run with a pair of free throws and first year guard Acacia Edmond (Houston, Texas/Shadow Creek) hit an important three to close the gap. Norquist hit a jumper, assisted by fellow junior guard/forward Peyton Starks (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) to tie the game at nine with 3:03 left in the quarter. Starks and first year guard Sydnee Smith (Gainesville, Va./Patriot) put up two more baskets for the Scots to lead 13-11. In the second quarter, the Scots battled to keep the lead. With the game tied at 17-17 with 5:50 on the clock, Saint Benedict's Megan Driste sank one from beyond the arc to kick off a 9-0 run for the Bennies. First year guard Mary Daley (Cumberland, R.I./Bishop Feehan) and Starks fought to close the gap, but the Scots were behind 33-23 heading into halftime.

Macalester fought to close the gap, and broke through with 5:27 on the clock. Starks knocked down a pair of free throws to kick off a 9-2 run. Smith rounded out the run with an important three, to close the gap to five, 45-40 with 1:29 left in the quarter. The Bennies sank in one more basket to lead by seven into the fourth. Saint Benedict extended its lead to as much as 13, 56-43 with 6:10 on the clock. Senior guard Andrea Palmen (Kenosha, Wis./The Prairie School) continued Macalester's fight, putting in a three-pointer, but the Scots were unable to catch the Bennies, and fell 66-58.

Starks led the team with 15 points, going three-for-three from the line, and two steals. Norquist banked 14 points, seven rebounds, a steal, and a game high five assists. Palmen registered 11 points, while Daley registered a game high nine rebounds. Macalester went 9-of-14 from the line compared to the 10-for-16 from the Bennies.

The Scots have one more game left before the winter break. Macalester hosts St. Olaf in a non-conference game on Tuesday Dec 12. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m.