NORTHFIELD, Minn. - A career-best 29 points by Liesl McCallum and 26 more from Addy Huss powered the Carleton College women's basketball team to a 69-65 victory over crosstown rival St. Olaf College. The win ensured that the Knights will retain the President's Cup, the series' traveling trophy that they have held since 2021-22.
McCallum's 29-point effort was 10 better than her previous career high, and came on 12-for-22 shooting. She also hit 5-of-8 free throws, and her 10 rebounds secured her fourth double-double of the year. Huss surpassed 20 points for the fifth time this year. She hit 11-of-16 shots, pulled in seven rebounds, colelcted four steals, handed out three assists, and blocked two shots. Charlotte Henry made multiple crucial defensive plays, including blocking a last-ditch 3-pointer to seal the game. The sophomore finished with four rebounds, a block, and two steals.
 
Carleton's (5-6, 2-2 MIAC) offensive game plan was paint-focused, as the Knights scored 54 of their points in the lane, to just 24 by St. Olaf (5-6, 0-4 MIAC). Carleton shot 46.0 percent on the game, its best performance in MIAC play, and took just six threes, making one (16.7 percent). The Knights hit 10-of-14 free throws (71.4 percent). St. Olaf was limited to 39.0 percent from the field but was better from outside than inside, shooting 40.0 percent (10-for-25) from 3-point range. The Oles made 9-of-15 free throws (60.0 percent). St. Olaf out-rebounded the Knights 40-30, but Carleton tallied 12 steals and committed just 11 turnovers to the Oles' 20, and capitalized for 18 points off turnovers.
 
The first quarter's theme was punch-counterpunch, as the frame ended tied 15-15 without an advantage larger than four points by either team, and four lead changes. Huss and McCallum accounted for 13 of Carleton's points.
 
The game saw the lead flip two more times in the second period before layups from Maggie Winesett bookended an 8-3 run that gave Carleton a 31-25 lead with 2:09 to go in the half. Carleton would enter the break leading 32-28 after a buzzer-beating two from Ole guard Grace Gertner.
 
An 8-0 Carleton burst that saw St. Olaf shut out for nearly three minutes was capped by a Henry transition layup, and Carleton led 42-32 at 6:15 in the third quarter. St. Olaf responded with a run of its own, an 11-2 jaunt that made it a 44-43 game two minutes later. Joy Brandenstein hit a three and a short jumper at the very end of the stanza to give the Oles their first lead in 20 minutes, a 49-48 edge with a quarter remaining.
 
Brandenstein stayed hot with a three to open the fourth quarter, and the Oles stayed in front until Audrey Whitney hit a pair of free throws at 5:41 to give Carleton a 59-57 advantage. Rookie Erin Schauer took over the game in the fourth, scoring 13 consecutive Ole points in the quarter. She tied things up with 2:15 left in the game, hitting a triple to make the score 65-65.
 
In the closing minute, Huss stopped a go-ahead basket from Schauer on the defensive end, then converted a tough bucket despite being fouled, giving the Knights a 67-65 lead with 33 seconds left. Carleton made another stop, McCallum hit two free throws, and Huss and Henry denied consecutive desperation tries to maintain the maize and blue's grasp on the President's Cup.
 
For St. Olaf, Schauer reached 29 points on 9-of-20 shooting. Brandenstein scored 17 points. Gertner totaled 10 rebounds.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton welcomes Concordia College-Moorhead, who received votes in the most recent D3hoops.com poll, to West Gym on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:45 p.m.