ST. PAUL, Minn. – Jasmine Choi (Jr./Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) poured in a season-high 22 points and helped the Knights dig out of a 15-point hole in the first half, but the Carleton College women's basketball team was unable to maintain a fourth-quarter lead and lost 70-67 at St. Catherine University.
 
After clawing out of the double-digit second quarter deficit, Carleton (6-13, 5-12 MIAC) built a 65-56 lead after Bella Thomas (So./Minneapolis, Minn./DeLaSalle) converted a traditional three-point play with 5:37 remaining in the contest. St. Catherine (11-7, 11-6 MIAC) showed poise down the stretch and finished the game with a 14-2 run to eke out the win.
 
"We had our opportunities down the stretch, but the more experienced team came out on top," said Carleton head coach Tammy Metcalf-Filzen. "I am proud of our effort. Our execution will continue to get better."
 
The Knights trailed 15-6 after the first quarter, a period during which Choi was held scoreless.
 
The Wildcats extended their lead to 23-8 with 3:41 left before intermission, but Choi accounted for nine straight points for Carleton as the visitors closed the stanza with a 15-4 burst to pull within 27-23.
 
Emma Henry (Jr./Prior Lake, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) had a pair of 3-pointers as Carleton began the third quarter with a 10-2 burst to extend its scoring run to 25-6 over a seven-minute stretch that bridged halftime.
 
Henry accounted for 13 points and Choi was responsible for eight more as the Knights scored 29 points during the third quarter, easily surpassing the team's combined total of 23 points from the first two frames. Back-and-forth play by both teams led to seven ties and five lead changes during the quarter. Carleton managed to hold a 52-48 advantage heading into the final quarter.
 
St. Catherine tied the score at 55-55 with 7:39 still to play, but Carleton responded with a 10-1 spurt that gave the Knights their largest lead of the game at 65-56.
 
St. Catherine stormed back with the game-changing 14-2 burst as the Knights suddenly went cold in the game's final five minutes.
 
Choi, Thomas, and Aiana Whitfield (Sr./Richfield, Minn./Benilde St.-Margaret's) had five points apiece in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats' Greta Schimnowski scored all 11 of her points in the final stanza to spark the hosts.
 
While Choi was notching her sixth career game of at least 20 points, Whitfield contributed 17 points, with Henry adding 15 points of her own to go along with a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Schimnowski was 1 of 5 Wildcats to reach double figures in scoring. Fifth-year Sam Orth led the way with 14 points and 10 boards.
 
With the victory, St. Catherine moved into a four-way tie for third place in the MIAC with an 11-6 record against conference opponents.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will host Bethel University for a Senior Day doubleheader. The men's game begins at 1:00 p.m. with the women's game slated for a 3:00 p.m. Tipoff.