Box Score When Chelsey Bonsante saw the opening, she knew exactly what to do. The sophomore guard sprinted in for a layup with 13 seconds to go for the winning points as Hamline's women's basketball team came from behind to edge Macalester, 75-73, at Leonard Center Saturday afternoon. Chloe Graves (3) had career highs for points (31) and assists (10) as HU improved to 11-10 overall and stayed alive for a MIAC playoff spot with a 6-8 mark. 

The Pipers are a game behind St. Benedict (7-7), the current occupant of the sixth and last playoff position. 

Graves, Bonsante and Alex Peterson, who scored 14 points and had a team high eight rebounds helped make up for the loss of the league's leading scorer Jordan Sammons. The senior guard missed her first game ever as the result of a hand injury suffered in the second half of last Wednesday's game at Bethel. 

But it was a struggle all day as the Scots used a late surge to take a nine-point halftime lead and then keep pace with the Pipers the rest of the day. 

Early on, it looked like Hamline would have its way. HU led 25-20 with 7:16 left in the first half when the Scots suddenly caught fire, finishing the half on a 17-3 run to lead 37-28 at the break.

Macalester led by 10 early in the second half but HU began to push back. Graves scored five points in a row and Bonsante did likewise to give Hamline a 53-52 edge midway in the half. No team led by more than two points after that until Peterson and Mattie Shelton scored consecutive baskets to give Hamline a 73-69 lead with 46 seconds left. Regan Fruh replied in kind for Macalester to tie the game for the seventh and last time at 73. 

That's when Graves spotted Bonsante for the basket that would prove to the difference in the game. 

The Scots missed a pair of free throws at the end and the Pipers held on for the win and a sweep of the series with their Snelling Ave. rivals. The Pipers shot a torrid 59 per cent for the second half, finishing 31-63 from the field. Graves and Bonante had four three-pointers each. 

Hamline now returns home for their final two regular season home games at Hutton Arena. They host Carleton Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) and St. Olaf next Saturday (1:00 p.m.)