NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Carleton College trailed by 17 points with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter and stormed all the way back to force overtime, where the Knights defeated Bethel University, 58-54, on Senior Day at West Gym.
Jasmine Choi (Jr./Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) led all scorers with a season high-tying 22 points.
"Wow! An amazing comeback for a very determined team," said Carleton head coach
Tammy Metcalf-Filzen. "I am so proud of the grit and determination we showed against a top team. We'll celebrate this tonight and then rest and get ready for the next one."
Prior to Saturday's game, the largest comebacks Carleton (7-13, 6-12 MIAC) had this season was rallying from down eight Macalester and Augsburg. This was the largest deficit the Knights overcame in a victory since digging out of a 17-point hole against Saint Benedict on Feb. 14, 2015. In that game the Knights had almost the entire second half to rally; this time around, they had less than 11 minutes.
Before Saturday's drama unfolded, Carleton celebrated the two seniors on the roster:
Bailey Harmon (Seattle, Wash./Lakeside) and
Aiana Whitfield (Richfield, Minn./Benilde St.-Margaret's)
"Bailey has had the misfortune of being injured every season of her career," noted Metcalf-Filzen. "She did not let that stop her from giving everything she had to the team. Her encouragement of others, her selfless attitude on the bench and in practice, and her willingness to go the extra mile for a teammate will all be missed.
"Aiana has shown so much growth - on and off the court - through her career. She is playing her best basketball right now. I'm glad we have her on the court for four more games. We'll miss her next season. She is leaving big shoes to fill."
Both teams struggled to score at times throughout a low-scoring first half, and Bethel (11-10, 11-7 MIAC) took a 28-23 lead into halftime.
For Carleton, the offensive woes continued after intermission as the Knights did not register a field goal over the opening eight minutes of the second half.
The Royals took advantage and Autumn Earney drained 3-pointers on three consecutive trips down the floor to give Bethel a seemingly unsurmountable 45-28 lead with 0:41 still to play in the third quarter.
Emma Henry (Jr./Prior Lake, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) and Whitfield both scored layups in the final 17 seconds of the period, and suddenly the tables turned.
Beginning with the two baskets late in the third quarter, Carleton closed regulation on a 21-4 run. The Knights shot 70 percent in the fourth quarter and held Bethel to only four points on 1-of-13 (8 percent) shooting.
Carleton still faced a double-digit deficit, 49-38, with just over six minutes remaining, but Choi scored five quick points and Henry added another layup to cut the margin to four.
The Knights' defense held possession after possession, and Choi tacked on a layup and later tied the game at 49-49 via two free throws with 7.2 seconds still to play, sending the teams to overtime.
The now impenetrable Carleton defense continued to keep Bethel at bay as the Royals were 2-of-12 from the field in the overtime. The Knights finally earned their first lead of the day when Whitfield scored at the 2:15 mark of the overtime. She had five of her 10 points in the extra period and finished the day with seven rebounds and three steals.
Choi made two more free throws before Earney's fourth triple brought the visitors within 53-52 with 50 seconds remaining.
Carleton put the ball back in Whitfield's hands, and she converted another layup.
Amelia Solt (Fy./Loveland, Colo./Thompson Valley) cashed in a pair of free throws and whitfield added another late to seal the victory.
In addition to her sixth career game of at least 20 points, Choi tallied eight rebounds, six steals, three assists, and two blocks. Henry was the third Knight in double figures, adding 11 points to go along with six boards.
Anna Garfield (11 points, 11 rebounds) notched a double-double for Bethel, which received 14 points from Courtney Nuest and 12 points from Autumn Earney, with the former hitting four 3-pointers in the second half and overtime. This was the Royals' fifth consecutive loss.
Carleton shot 39 percent for the game overall but was only 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. The Knights limited Bethel to 25 percent shooting, including 3-of-25 (12 percent) during the fourth quarter and overtime. The Royals made 9-of-32 (28 percent) of their attempts from 3-point range on the afternoon.
The result snapped Bethel's 18-game win streak against Carleton dating back to Jan. 26, 2013.
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton closes the season with four consecutive road games. First up is a visit to College of Saint Benedict on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Largest deficit overcome by Carleton to win game (since 2006-07)
18 at St. Catherine on 1/31/2011
17 vs. Saint Benedict on 2/14/2015
17 vs. Bethel on 2/4/2023
15 vs. Saint Benedict on 1/21/2017
