NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College women's basketball team closed the game on a 16-0 run to rally for 54-45 victory over visiting Concordia College-Moorhead in the conference opener for the Knights. Aiana Whitfield (Jr./Richfield, Minn./Benilde St.-Margaret's) poured in a game-high 23 points, including six during the game-ending surge, and added five more steals to her conference-leading total.
 
Carleton (2-1, 1-0 MIAC) faced a 31-21 deficit at intermission but used a stifling all-around defensive effort to mount the comeback, limiting Concordia (1-2, 1-1 MIAC) to 17 percent shooting in the second half, including 0-of-8 from beyond the arc.
 
"The team showed a lot of grit fighting back from a double-digit deficit," said Carleton head coach Tammy Metcalf-Filzen. "I'm proud of our effort and the focus we showed in the second half. It will be good to finish up classes this week and come out on the other side of fall term finals. We have lots of work to do, but we are moving in the right direction."
 
Carleton trailed 38-26 with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter before Whitfield drained a 3-pointer and added pair of free throws to bring the Knights within striking distance.
 
Whitfield scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, and Isabelle Henry (So./Prior Lake, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) contributed a 3-pointer and a layup following a steal that capped a 12-2 run to bring Carleton within 40-38.
 
Mary Semm scored five straight points to give the Cobbers some breathing room at 45-38 with only 4:40 remaining.
 
The stingy Carleton defense took over at the point and did not allow Concordia to score again as the Cobbers missed their final seven shots and committed three turnovers.
 
Whitfield swished another 3-pointer to spark the game-ending 16-0 run. Jill Yanai (Sr./Glendale, Calif./Glendale) chipped in four points down the stretch and assisted on a diving layup from Jasmine Choi (So./Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) that pushed the Knights in front, 46-45, for their
first lead since 10-8.
 
On the Cobbers' ensuing possession, a steal from Whitfield – her fifth of the contest – led to two free throw attempts. Carleton iced the game at the charity stripe going a perfect 8-for-8 over the final minute.
 
Isabelle Henry was the only other player in double figures for Carleton, finishing with 11 points, five steals, and four rebounds. Yanai filled up the box score with six points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
 
Emily Beseman led the way for the visitors with 17 points, while Sem chipped in 13 points.
 
Carleton finished the game with only three triples, but the Knights held Concordia to 2-of-21 (9.5 percent) from beyond the arc. The Knights also won the battle on the boards, pulling down 43 rebounds (17 offensive) compared to Concordia's 36. Carleton forced 21 turnovers, 15 of them steals, and held Concordia to 30 percent shooting in a game in which the Knights emerged victorious despite leading for just over two minutes of game time.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will take a break from competition in order to focus on fall term final exams. The team's next contest will be Wednesday, Dec. 1 at Gustavus Adolphus College.