NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College women's basketball team couldn't overcome a strong start by No. 25-ranked Bethel University, suffering a 67-52 loss.

"I'm very proud of our effort tonight," said Carleton head coach Tammy Metcalf-Filzen. "Bethel is a top-25 team, and their roster is loaded with seniors. It was a great opportunity for us to compete and get better. This game was huge improvement from our first meeting. We continue to get better, and our players keep leaving every thing on the floor."
 
The trio of outstanding rookies in maize and blue put together another solid performance, as Audrey Whitney (16 points), Addy Huss (13), and Liesl McCallum (10) scored all but 12 of Carleton's points. Whitney led the team in scoring for the fifth time in seven games. Huss went 6-for-12 from the floor, her fifth straight game with a shooting percentage of 50 percent or better. McCallum pulled down 10 rebounds for her first career double-double, adding two blocks and two steals. Nayeli Williams tied a team season high with five steals. Jasmine Maldonado had a team-high and career-high three assists in just thirteen minutes
 
Carleton (3-17, 2-11 MIAC) led seven minutes into the game, when Huss finished a layup down low. However, Bethel (17-3, 13-0 MIAC) hit a trio of threes and were fouled on a three-pointer in the final three minutes of the first half to take a 20-14 lead after a quarter.
 
After going 5-of-7 from 3-point range in the first quarter, the Royals then shot 5-of-6 from deep in the second to open up a 41-24 halftime lead, although Huss canned a halftime heave at the intermission buzzer to offer a spark for the Knights. Carleton did outscore the visitors in the second half 28-26 but were unable to chip enough off the lead to snap Bethel's 13-game MIAC winning streak.
 
Carleton shot 33.3 percent on the game, going 5-of-18 from three (27.8 percent). Bethel concluded just above the Knights in shooting at 35.9 percent and finsihed the contest 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) beyond the arc, buoyed by a blistering 10-of-13 (76.9 percent) showing from 3-point range in the first half. The Royals out-rebounded the Knights 46-32.
 
Grad students Lydia Hay (16 points, 2-of-4 3FG, seven rebounds, two blocks) and Anna Garfield (14 points, 4-of-5 3FG, six rebounds, three steals) led the way for the visitors. Macey Littlefield's 11 points rounded out the double-digit scorers for the visitors.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 8 against St. Catherine University. The game will tip off on the road at the Wildcats' Butler Center at 1:00 p.m.