Hamline stormed out to a 34-14 halftime lead and held off Macalester for a 52-43 win at the Leonard Center. The Pipers improve to 9-10 on the season and 9-7 in the MIAC, while the Scots drop to 4-15 overall, 3-13 in league play.
Macalester jumped for 19 offensive boards and out-rebounded Hamline 55-33, but could not overcome a 22-11 turnover advantage for the visitors.
Veronika Jakubovie (Jr., Maple Grove, Minn.) finished with a double-double to lead the Scots, contributing 12 points and 12 rebounds. She grabbed eight offensive boards. Kyanna Jones (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Osseo) finished with eight points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Kara Poirier had 15 points and five assists to lead Hamline, while Steph Pilgrim added 14 points and three blocks.
Coming back from a 20-point halftime deficit, the Scots fought back and came to within seven points at 48-41 with 4:39 to play. However, Macalester could not finish off its 20-4 rally which began at 13:54.
Mac returns to action Saturday (Feb. 2) when it plays host to first-place Concordia-Moorhead at 1 p.m.