ST. PAUL, Minn. –  It was a tale of two halves, as the Macalester women's basketball team faced the Bethel Royals this evening on the road. The Royals pulled away early and the Scots were unable to overcome the deficit, falling 79-50. The Scots are now 8-12 (5-10 MIAC) while Bethel is now 12-8 (10-5 MIAC).

The Scots went basket for basket with the Royals to start the game, with junior guard/forward Peyton Starks (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) and first year guard Mary Daley (Cumberland, R.I./Bishop Feehan) combining to tie the game at 6-6. Bethel then went on a 14-4 run to take a 20-10 lead over the Scots into the second quarter. The Royals extended their lead to 27-2 with 4:53, before Macalester put in a 9-2 run of their own. Starks, junior guard Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door), and junior guard/forward Katherine Norquist (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep) all scored in the run to cut Bethel's lead down to 29-21 with just over two minutes left in the half. However, the Royals came back and took a 35-23 lead at the break.

The Scots battled hard, going basket-for-basket with the Royals in the third. Starks completed a successful and-one, while first year guard Acacia Edmond (Houston, Texas/Shadow Creek) put up two driving layups and a couple jumpers from Norquist kept the Scots within 11, 47-36 with 3:48 on the clock. Yet, the Royals went on a run in the last few minutes to lead 60-38 heading into the fourth. Starks, Norquist and Edmond continued to push the Scots' offense and sink free throws. Junior guard Jessica Sabbagh (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) hit a three and free throw at the end of the game, but the Scots fell 79-50 to the Royals.

The Scots shot 40.4% from the field and went 7-for-11 from the line. Starks led the offense with 19 points while Norquist totaled 12. Norton grabbed a team high nine boards while Daley registered four assists.

Macalester's next game will be Saturday Feb 3. The Scots host Saint Mary's in the Leonard Center. Tipoff is at 1:00 p.m.