NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Paced by 20 points from first-year Audrey Whitney and 14 more from classmate Liesl McCallum, the Carleton College women's basketball team gave the College of Saint Benedict all it could handle, but the Knights ultimately fell 65-60 in a hard-fought battle.
 
Saint Benedict (13-6, 8-4 MIAC) opened the contest with a 9-2 run on its way to building a 17-9 advantage after the opening quarter. The second stanza belonged to Carleton (3-16, 2-10 MIAC), which went 9-of-15 from the field in the frame.
 
The Knights trailed 26-15 with 4:40 left before halftime, but Whitney knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to kick off a 12-0 spurt as part of Carleton's larger 16-2 run to close to the quarter. That allowed the hosts to hold a 31-28 advantage heading into the locker room for break. 
 
Saint Benedict started the second half hot, scoring 11 straight points to take a 39-31 lead. Sophia Jonas hit three triples during the stretch, and the Bennies cashed in six 3-pointers during the third quarter and led 50-43 heading into the final stanza.
 
The Knights trailed 54-45 midway through the fourth quarter but cut the deficit to 58-54 with 1:05 left to play. Carleton then came up with a steal before the Bennies crossed half court, and Nayeli Williams' layup pulled the Knights within a single possession with 58 seconds left on the clock.
 
On Saint Benedict's next possession, Jonas drained her sixth triple of the contest, and the Knights fell short in the foul game.
 
Williams provided a spark for the hosts thanks to 11 points, three steals, and a block. Addy Huss was the fourth double-digit score for Carleton as she chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds, and two steals for the Knights, who shot 24-of-56 (42.9 percent) from the field and 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) from deep.
 
Jonas finished with 20 for the Bennies, followed by Lauren Arnold with 10. Megan Morgan filled the stat sheet with nine points, eight boards, six assists, and two steals. As a team, the Bennies shot 23-of-59 (39 percent) from the field and 11-of-34 (32.4 percent) from behind the arc.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton continues the homestand with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff against Bethel University on Wednesday, Feb. 5 as part of a women's-men's doubleheader.