ST. PAUL, Minn. – Macalester women's basketball team hosted MIAC opponent Gustavus Adolphus this afternoon in the Leonard Center. The Scots fought valiantly, playing well, shooting 42.9% from the field, but ultimately fell 69-46 to the Gusties. The Scots are 4-17 (3-15 MIAC).

The first quarter was very back-and-forth. The Gusties took the lead, and then sophomore guard/forward Katherine Norquist (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep) hit both free throws to tie the game at two. Senior guard Solana Cushing (Minneapolis, Minn./South) sank one from beyond the arc to take the lead 5-4 with 7:11 on the clock. Sophomore guard/forward Peyton Starks (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) continued to increase Macalester's lead to 9-4. The Gusties started to knock in some points, but Starks shut that down with a three-pointer to lead 12-6 with 4:45 left in the quarter. The held the lead 14-11 with a jumper from sophomore guard Camille Samuel (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Preparatory). The lead changed three times within the last minute of the quarter, but Starks' and-one at the end, secured a 19-17 lead for Macalester heading into the second quarter.

Macalester continued to hold onto the lead early in the quarter, with points from junior guard Caitlin Panos (North Andover, Mass./Andover), Norquist, and junior guard Andrea Palmen (Kenosha, Wis./The Prairie School), leading 25-22. Gustavus would go on to gain a small lead, 29-25 with 6:25 on the clock. Yet the Scots came back to tie the game at 29 all with a layup from Starks and two from the line by Norquist. However, Gustavus would go on an 11-0 run to the half up over the Scots, 40-29.

The Gusties limited Macalester to just four points in the first few minutes of the third quarter, increasing their lead to 18. Senior forward Emma LaFrenz (Edina, Minn./Edina) made a free throw and Samuel and Norquist dropped points to chip away at the Gusties' lead, but Macalester was down 56-38 with 10 minutes left in the game. Norquist and LaFrenz cut the lead down to 16, with 6:04 on the clock. Sophomore guard Jessica Sabbagh (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) snapped a 10-0 Gustavus run with a three-pointer with just under two minutes left. Palmen made a layup at the end of the game, but the Scots fell 69-46.

Macalester shot 42.9% from the field, and made 7-for-12 free throws. Starks led the team with 14 points and two steals. Norquist led the team with four of the Scots' 11 assists. Norquist also co-led in rebounds (5) with Palmen. Junior guard Maia Pedrosa (South San Francisco, Calif./Urban School of San Francisco) totaled two assists. 

Macalester's next game will be on Wednesday February 8. The Scots travel to Northfield, Minn. to compete against MIAC opponent St. Olaf. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.