ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College women's basketball team kept it close in the first half before eventually falling to sixth-ranked Gustavus Adolphus, 56-34 in a MIAC game Wednesday night in the Leonard Center. The Scots are now 7-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play, while the Gusties remain unbeaten at 12-0 overall and 5-0 in the MIAC.

After Gustavus took a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, Macalester played even with its nationally-ranked opponent. Five points by senior guard Peyton Starks (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School), four points from sophomore guard Sydnee Smith (Gainesville, Va./Patriot) and a layup by senior guard Nicole Norton (Brussels, Wis./Southern Door) helped the Scots out-score Gustavus 11-8 in the second quarter to make the halftime score 21-19 Gusties. Macalester shot 37.5 percent from the field in the first half compared to 26.9 percent for Gustavus, which made 1-of-11 from three-point range.

Momentum flipped to the visitor's side in the third quarter, as the Gusties dominated with an 18-5 run to take a commanding 39-24 advantage heading to the fourth. The Scots were held without a field goal in the third quarter while making 5-of-8 from the free throw line, with Gustavus shooting 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from the field. After Smith made a jumper in the lane to open the final quarter, the Gusties scored the next 11 points to put the game away, 50-26 with five minutes remaining. For the game Gustavus scored 21 points off of 23 Macalester turnovers and held a 37-29 rebounding advantage.

Senior forward Katherine Norquist (Chicago, Ill./Walter Payton College Prep) led the Scots with 12 points. Starks had seven points and a team-leading seven rebounds, while Smith had six points and six boards. Emma Kniefel led all players with 14 points for Gustavus.

Macalester returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 11 with a MIAC game at Bethel University. The opening tip is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Arden Hills, Minn.