Northfield, Minn. – Megan Vig (Jr./Northfield, Minn.) scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as host Carleton College shot 55 percent from the floor in clinching its third consecutive MIAC regular-season title by beating St. Mary’s University, 62-48.
The Knights (17-5, 17-2 MIAC) are only the fourth conference program to capture three consecutive titles. Carleton must win its final regular-season game at Bethel University on Saturday to claim its first outright title and the top seed in the upcoming MIAC Playoffs.
Beth Freeman (Sr./Richfield, Minn.) added 13 points and nine rebounds and Kristi Colbenson (Sr./Rushford, Minn./Rushford-Peterson) was also in double figures with 12 points.
Angie Arrington and Jamie Rattunde scored 12 points each for the Cardinals (16-7, 12-7 MIAC), who shot 30 percent for the game and were held under 50 points by Carleton for the second time this season. The Cardinals still control their own destiny for the fourth seed and a MIAC Playoff quarterfinal home game if they can either beat St. Olaf at home on Saturday or have St. Benedict beat Gustavus. Megan Moran added 10 points and three steals for the Cardinals.
The Knights raced to a 16-6 lead, fueled by a pair of Kate Krueger (Sr./Kirkland, Wash./Seattle Prep) three-pointers and a pair of Vig lay-ups. The Cardinals crept back within seven on an Alissa Banttari inside bucket, but the Knights finished off the half on an 8-0 spurt, highlighted by a Taylor Ross (Fy./Fairfield, Iowa/Maharishi) triple at the horn to lead 38-23.
Carleton went stone cold to open the second half, scoring only five points over the first 12 minutes, but still led 43-37 with eight minutes left. The Knights outscored the Cardinals 15-7 over the final 5:35, getting 10 points from Vig during the stretch to maintain their one-game lead over Concordia-Moorhead in the MIAC standings.
Carleton was 5-for-9 from three-point range and held a sizable 41-27 edge on the glass, which help offset an 18-6 disparity in turnovers. The Cardinals owned a 17-8 advantage on points off turnovers, but the Knights held St. Mary’s, which led the MIAC in three-pointers made per game at 6.78 per game, to 2-for-17 from three-point range.
Carleton concludes the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Bethel University at 1 p.m. The Cardinals host St. Olaf College on Feb. 19 as well at 1 p.m.
