<s Senior Day at West Gym, but the Carleton College women’s basketball dropped a 60-50 result to visiting Hamline University in the final Saturday home game for seniors Cece Leone (Sr./Fairfax, Va./Bishop Ireton) and Annabelle Leahy (Sr./Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman).
The Carleton (3-20, 0-16 MIAC) defensive registered an astounding 11 blocks on the game, the most for the team this season and the second-most in recorded program history behind a 12-block game at Hamline on Dec. 9, 2006.
Both teams struggled to score early in today’s contest. Hamline (12-11, 7-9 MIAC) missed its first 11 field-goal attempts but still managed to possess a 14-4 lead after the opening quarter. Carleton closed to within five points on multiple occasions throughout the afternoon but was unable to completely overcome the early deficit.
The Knights out-shot the Pipers 35 percent to 30 percent, but Hamline held an 18-8 edge in points off turnovers and was effective in getting to the free-throw line, attempting 31 shots from the charity stripe compared to 12 for the Knights.
Leone dropped a team-best 16 points to go along with nine rebounds, three blocks, and an assist. Today’s performance marked the 46th double-digit scoring output of Leone’s collegiate career.
Meanwhile, Samantha Cooke (Jr./Chesterfield, Mo./Incarnate Word Academy) turned in her second career double-double, dropping 12 points and 12 boards in addition to a block and a steal. Cooke has now scored in double figures in six of the team’s past seven games.
Hamline had three players record double-digit performances on the afternoon. Leading the way for the visitors was Reilly Geistfeld, who recorded game-highs of 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Carleton will play its final home game of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 13 with a midweek MIAC doubleheader against Concordia-Moorehead. The women’s game tips off at 5:45 p.m., while the men’s game is slated for a 7:45 p.m. start. Links to live video and stats for both games will available via Knights Online.