< Purfeerst ‘14 notched a team-high 15 points and six rebounds, as the Carleton College women’s basketball team completed a sweep of the season series against Macalester College with a 61-53 victory on the road.
The Knights (6-17, 6-14 MIAC) jumped out in front early, leading by as many as 18 points in the first period. They shot 46 percent from the field before intermission, including a 44-percent clip from beyond the arc. The Scots (4-19, 3-17 MIAC) made runs late in the first and early in the second half to narrow the margin, but Carleton was able to maintain enough defensive pressure to pick up the win.
“I thought we really set the tone at the beginning of the game with our defensive energy and carried it through until the final buzzer,” said head coach Cassie Kosiba. “Offensively, we had a balanced scoring attack and took much better care of the ball, especially in the second half.”
Macalester led by one just over six minutes into the contest, but a three-pointer by Michele Arima ‘16 sparked a 24-5 run for the Knights over the next nine minutes. Megan Meads ‘14 accounted for seven points during the stretch, and Gabbi Stienstra ‘16 went drained a pair of shots from beyond the arc to give Carleton a 32-14 advantage.
However, Macalester chipped away at the Knights’ lead over the duration of the half, using a 13-2 run to pull within seven points at intermission. The Scots’ Kyanna Jones banked a three-pointer at the buzzer, and the teams entered the break with Carleton leading 34-27.
Macalester opened the second half with a 15-6 spurt, capped by a three-point play by Jones. That allowed the Scots to recapture the lead at 42-40 with 12:30 remaining in regulation.
The Knights and Scots traded baskets over the next seven minutes, but Carleton pulled ahead for good with a pair of free throws by Jenny Ramey ‘14.
Meads and Stienstra joined Purfeerst in double-figures, tallying 11 points apiece. Ramey filled the stat sheet, contributing five points, five assists, and four rebounds.