MANKATO, Minn. – Aiana Whitfield (Sr./Richfield, Minn./Benilde St.-Margaret's) scored 8 of her 14 points during a key third-quarter run and Amelia Solt (Fy./Loveland, Colo./Thompson Valley) tallied 23 points in her collegiate debut as the Carleton College women's basketball secured a come-from-behind 69-60 victory in the Knights' season opener at Bethany Lutheran.
 
"A great first game that provided many learning opportunities," said Carleton head coach Tammy Metcalf-Filzen. "After we settled down in the second half, we were able to address some issues defensively. Lots of fight in this team. It took everyone's contributions to get the win."
 
Carleton (1-0) struggled out the gate and did not hit a bucket until midway through the first quarter. Fortunately, the defense did its job and held the Vikings (0-1) in check, allowing the Knights to hold a 14-10 lead after the opening stanza.
 
Aided by eight points in the second quarter for Lexiss Trygg, Bethany Lutheran shot 69 percent in the period and reclaimed a 33-31 advantage by intermission.
 
Carleton trailed 39-35 with 3:16 to go in the third quarter when Whitfield scored six straight points to give the Knights their first lead of the second half. She added another driving layup as the quarter expired, pushing the Carleton lead to 48-44 heading into the final frame.
 
The Knights led by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter and maintained at least a four-point margin over the final 10 minutes.
 
Leading 62-58 with only 39 seconds remaining in the game, the defense stepped up once again. Margie Clauss (Jr./Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn) drew a charge to wipe out a Bethany Lutheran layup. Bella Thomas (So./Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle) drew another offensive foul on the Vikings' next trip down the floor, again preventing the hosts from closing the gap.
 
Solt iced the game by hitting 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute. Her 23-point effort was the most by a Knight during a season opener in more than two decades.
 
Emma Henry (Jr./Prior Lake, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) narrowly missed a double-double as she closed the contest with nine points and nine rebounds to go along with four steals. Selma Vangstein (So./Oslo, Norway/Nydalen) added a career-best nine points,
 
Haley Meyer paced the Vikings with 15 points, while Trygg and Taryn Christensen had 10 points apiece.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will host Luther College for the Knights' home opener at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12.