COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Macalester College women's basketball team lost a close game with host Colorado College, 64-59 at the Rocky Mountain Thanksgiving Classic Saturday afternoon at Reid Gymnasium. The Scots fall to 1-6, while the Tigers improve to 4-3.
The first quarter remained close throughout, with neither team leading by more than three points. A three-pointer by first year guard
Solana Cushing (Minneapolis, Minn./South) put Macalester ahead, 15-12 at the 1:45 mark of the first quarter. The Scots held a 21-19 edge early in the second quarter when Colorado College scored 11 straight points to lead 30-21 with four minutes left in the first half. Four points by senior guard
Holly Hull (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley Northwest) helped Macalester end the half on a 7-2 run to make the score 32-28 Tigers at the break.
Colorado College pushed its lead to 40-30 with an 8-2 run to start the second half. The Scots responded by outscoring the Tigers 13-5 to pull to within two, 45-43 with 1:17 left in the third quarter. In the final quarter, Macalester used five points from sophomore guard
Celine Sabbagh (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis) and three from Hull to spark a 12-5 spree and take a 55-54 lead with 4:52 remaining. The score was tied, 57-57 with 2:14 to play when McKenzee Gertz hit a three to give Colorado College a 60-57 advantage. A basket by junior guard
Justine Barraza (Burbank, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) brought the Scots to within one, 60-59 with 1:35 left. Macalester had two chances to take the lead but came up empty both times, and the Tigers made their free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.
Sabbagh led all players with 17 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Hull finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Barraza had 11 points and three assists. Junior guard
Katie Sowerby (Mill Valley, Calif./Tamalpais) notched nine points, three rebounds and three assists. Gertz led Colorado College with 16 points, eight boards and three steals.
The Scots resume MIAC play on Wednesday, Dec. 4 with a home game against St. Thomas. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.
