NORTHFIELD, Minn. - The Carleton College women's basketball team got contributions up and down the roster as the Knights celebrated National Women and Girls in Sports Day with a 73-67 victory over Macalester College, completing a season-series sweep of the Scots. Jasmine Choi led the Knights in every statistical category, posting her second consecutive double-double thanks to 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and two blocked shots.
"We had to worked hard tonight to wrestle the game away from a determined Macalester team," said Carleton head coach Tammy Metcalf-Filzen. "I am pleased with the way we came together—every player on the team scored and contributed. We will enjoy a day of rest before we get back on the court and prepare for St. Scholastica."
The Knights (7-12, 6-10 MIAC) ended the first quarter in a big way, going on a 13-2 run over the final four minutes to hold a 19-8 lead after the opening 10 minutes. Carleton led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, but a late rally by the Scots (8-11, 6-10 MIAC) trimmed Carleton's lead to eight, 34-26, going into the halftime break. By the time the teams headed to intermission, all nine active Knights had already gotten onto the scoresheet.
Macalester started the second half with a 15-6 run, giving the visitors a 41-40 lead with 3:32 remaining in the third quarter. Peyton Starks helped spark the Scots' comeback, scoring 10 of her 16 points in the period.
Carleton fought back with a 10-2 run including momentum-swinging threes from Isabelle Henry and Aurora Davis. That spurt gave the Knights a lead they would not relinquish.
A Katherine Norquist layup brought Macalester to within 55-52 with six minutes still to play, but that would be the closest the game would get as Carleton scored the next six points.
Choi went 7-of-8 at the charity stripe during the final minute of the contest to close out the victory for Carleton.
The win was the Knights' second straight at home, which moved them above Macalester at St. Olaf in the conference standings due to tiebreakers.
Aiana Whitfield and Margie Clauss both tacked on 10 points apiece with the latter scoring eight points during the fourth quarter.
Celine Sabbagh led the way for Macalester with 17 points. Starks' 16 points were second on the team while Norquist added 15 points and 12 rebounds.