ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College women's basketball team dropped a home MIAC game to Gustavus, 56-40 Saturday afternoon in the Leonard Center. The Scots are now 2-18 overall and 1-13 in conference play, while the Gusties improve to 14-7, 10-4 MIAC.

Junior guard Sydnee Smith (Gainesville, Va./Patriot) tallied the first five points of the game, including a three-pointer, to give Macalester an early lead. After Gustavus went on a 9-1 run, a basket by junior guard Mary Daley (Cumberland, R.I./Bishop Feehan) and another three from Smith gave the Scots an 11-9 edge. The Gusties closed out the quarter with a 6-3 run to take a 15-14 lead heading into the second quarter. The advantage was still one, 23-22 when Gustavus went on a 12-2 run that made the halftime score 35-24 Gusties. Gustavus shot 50.0 percent from the field in the second quarter compared to 26.7 percent for Macalester.

The visitors stayed in control of the game during the third quarter, leading by as many as 19 before taking a 49-32 advantage at the end of the third. The Scots came as close as 15 in the final quarter, but Gustavus extended its lead to 20 before Smith and Daley scored down the stretch to make the final score 56-40. The Gusties' bench players out-scored Macalester's, 26-9, and Gustavus enjoyed a 28-16 advantage in points scored in the paint.

Smith led the Scots with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Daley also grabbed eight boards to go with 14 points. Sophomore forward Cady Davis (Minneapolis, Minn./Roosevelt) registered three blocks to go with five rebounds. Ella Peters tallied 14 points to pace Gustavus.

Macalester continues MIAC play with a game at Saint Benedict on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in St. Joseph, Minn.