WINONA, Minn. – The Macalester women's basketball team took the road trip down to Saint Mary's this afternoon for the first road contest of the new year. The Scots' determination led the team to edge out the Cardinals, 48-43, and be victorious. The Scots improve to 6-6 (3-5 MIAC).

Senior guard Andrea Palmen (Kenosha, Wis./The Prairie School) set the tone for the Scots, draining a three-pointer to start the game. Junior guard/forward Peyton Starks (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) then increased the lead to 5-2. The Cardinals took a slight 8-5 lead with 2:07 left in the quarter, but a three-pointer from first year guard Acacia Edmond (Houston, Texas/Shadow Creek) and precise free throws from Starks boosted the Scots over the Cardinals 10-8 at the end of the first. The game was tied 13 all with 6:13 left in the half before the Cardinals went on a 7-2 run for a 20-15 lead. Junior guard/forward Katherine Norquist (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep) and first year guard Sydnee Smith (Gainesville, Va./Patriot) combined to close the gap to one basket, 22-20 headed into the half.

Starks quickly tied the game to start the third and kick off a 9-2 run. However, Saint Mary's was able to tie the game back up at 31 with 3:42 on the clock. Norquist put up three points in the final minutes but the Cardinals' Kali Olson's last second layup tied the game at 34 heading into the fourth. The teams battled hard and Norquist, Smith, and Starks helped the Scots to build a 44-40 lead with 40 seconds left in the game. The Scots went 4-for-4 from the line at the end of the game, with Palmen and first year guard Mary Daley (Cumberland, R.I./Bishop Feehan) holding off the Cardinals and taking the game 48-43.

Starks led the Scots with 14 points and a team high five steals. Norquist secured her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Smith also knocked in double digits with 10 points and led the team in assists with three.

The Scots' next game is Saturday January 13. Macalester is on the road again, heading to Minneapolis to face Augsburg. Tipoff is at 1:00 p.m.