Box Score Alaina Quaranta had the hot hand early and kept it up all night for the Hamline women's basketball team. The junior unloaded a career high 27 points for the Pipers in a 71-66 loss to the Knights Wednesday at West Gym in Northfield. Molly Wampler added 15 for Hamline, now 2-12 overall and 1-6 in MIAC games. 

The Pipers had their best scoring output in a conference game and their second best point total of the season. But it didn't come easy. HU started slow, trailing 23-9 after a quarter. Quaranta's touch (she had 13 in the first half) as well as eight from Morgen Coleman sparked a second period surge that saw Hamline move ahead, 35-33, at halftime. The third quarter went back and forth. The game was tied for the ninth time at 47 with 2:33 left in the third when the Knights used a 7-2 run for a 54-49 edge after three. 

The Pipers remained resolved, getting within a pair on two occasions. The last was a Wampler three pointer that made it 68-66 with 21 seconds left. The Knights, however, hit foul shots when they had to and sealed the win. 

Hamline returns to Hutton Arena on Saturday, January 13 to take on St. Catherine. Game time is 3:00 p.m.