ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Carleton College women's basketball team nearly completed a 17-point comeback in its contest at Macalester College, getting back to within one point. Despite the rally, the Knights dropped a 55-50 result to the Scots.

After trailing 38-21 with 6:29 still to play in the third quarter, Carleton (7-15, 6-14 MIAC) went on a 24-8 run to claw within 46-45 with 4:41 still to play. The teams exchanged buckets before Macalester (6-17, 5-15 MIAC) outscored the Knights 7-3 over the final 3:32 of the game.

The Knights were led in scoring by Jasmine Choi and Aiana Whitfield, who each tallied 14 points. The former picked up her second double-double of the season, grabbing 10 rebounds along with her team-lead in points in addition to four steals. Emma Henry fell a bucket shy of a double-double with eight points to go along with 10 boards of her own.

A low-scoring first quarter saw Macalester hold a 12-8 lead as the Knights went only 2-of-11 from the field. The Scots hit three quick 3-pointers to open up a 21-10 advantage early in the quarter, but the Knights later used a 7-0 run to pull within 24-21 with more than 3:00 remaining in the first half. Unfortunately, the only points either team scored during the remainder of the period was a 3-pointer by the Scots' Solana Cushing, giving Macalester a 27-21 lead at intermission.

Coming out of halftime, the Scots immediately went on an 11-0 run that gave them their largest lead of the day (38-21). The Knights were not going to make it easy for them, however. A 3-pointer from Henry finally got the Knights on the board in the second half, and from there Carleton chipped away at Macalester's lead.

Another 3-pointer from Henry cut the lead to 46-40, and Bella Thomas followed with a jumper to cut the margin to four points. A great steal by Choi led to her scoring a traditional three-point play, and suddenly Carleton was within 46-45 with 4:41 still to play.

Whitfield brought the visitors back within 48-47 less than a minute later, but the Knight offense may have used up all its firepower trying to get back into the game as Carleton was limited to only three points down the stretch.

Macalester's Peyton Starks posted game highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds. Katherine Norquist (12 points) and Cushing (11 points) also reached double figures for the Scots.