ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Carleton College women's basketball team fought a close battle at No. 22-ranked Bethel University, but the Knights were unable to keep pace in the second half and ultimately fell by a score of 62-55.
 
Carleton (5-8, 2-4 MIAC) point guard Addy Huss accounted for 22 of the Knights' 26 second-half points and finished with a game-high 27 points. It was her sixth game of the season with 20 or more points. Huss also came up with a career-best six steals, the most by a Knight since Feb. 8, 2023.
 
Audrey Whitney contributed 15 points, and Liesl McCallum chipped in 13 points while falling a rebound shy of a double-double.
 
After falling behind early 19-12 after the opening quarter, Carleton answered back in the second stanza with a defensive effort that held the Royals to just 18 percent shooting in the quarter while the Knights connected at a 54 percent clip. After out-scoring Bethel 17-8 in the period, Carleton carried a 29-27 advantage into intermission.
 
In the second half, despite early Carleton defensive stoutness, Bethel began forcing turnovers and outscored the visitors 20-8 in the third quarter. The hosts maintained at least a four-point margin the rest of the way.
 
Carleton shot better than Bethel overall (43 percent vs. 39 percent), beyond the arc (28 percent vs. 17 percent) and at the free-throw line (80 percent vs. 77 percent), but the Royals took advantage of their size to collect 16 offensive rebounds compared to only six for the Knights.
 
Emily Erickson had 24 points to lead Bethel and grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double. Rosalie Penke added 13 points.
 
Up Next for the Knights
After consecutive games against conference co-leaders No. 25 Concordia-Moorhead and No. 22 Bethel, the schedule does not get any easier for Carleton as the Knights travel to Hamline University, which is only one game behind the MIAC leaders in the standings. Tipoff against the Pipers is set for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14.