ST. PAUL, Minn.- The Hamline women's basketball team (14-10, 9-10 MIAC) held a second half lead for all but the final minute of play on Wednesday night, seeing Carleton College (11-13, 8-11 MIAC) score the last eight points of the game to come away with a 61-53 win at Hutton Arena.
 
The Pipers shot 28.4% in the game, an average brought down by cold shooting in the first and final quarter. The Knights were consistent throughout the contest, connecting on 41.5% of their field goals on the night. Both the Pipers and the Knights were able to capitalize from beyond the arc, each hitting double digit threes in the game.
 
Hamline's offensive efforts were led by first year Lydia Lecher, who ended with 15 points, on six of 13 from the floor (46.2%). She also recorded four rebounds, two assists, and a block to fill out her stat line. Senior Reilly Geistfeld was close behind with 13 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double, while also collecting five steals and a pair of blocks.
 
Sophomore Gabby Robinson chipped in with eight points, hitting three of her five shots (60.0%), including draining two of three from deep (66.6%).
 
The first quarter started out evenly matched as the teams were deadlocked at seven after the first seven minutes of play. However, the Knights used a 10-2 run at the end of the quarter to lead 15-9 after the first 10 minutes.
 
The Pipers caught fire in the second quarter, hitting seven of their 10 threes (70.0%) and finishing the frame with a 66.7 (10-15) field goal percentage. Sophomore Chan'el Anderson-Manning gave the Pipers the lead after two successful free throws, putting HU up 28-27. The Pipers would then go on a 10-3 run to finish the half, leading 38-30 at the break.
 
Hamline held their own in the third period, not giving up the lead, heading into the fourth with a 50-45 point edge. However, the Knights held the Pipers to three points in the last 10 minutes, scoring 16 points of their own to secure the win. Carleton tied the game up at 53 points with 2:19 to go and a three from Katie Chavez would give them their first lead of the half with 52 seconds left. They would close out the game with five free throws to make the final 61-53.
 
HU's second quarter shooting did not carry over to the second half, as the Pipers hit only six of their 33 field goals (18.2%) in the concluding half of the matchup.
 
The Knights were led by Chavez, who had a game-high 22 points on the evening. Teammate Margie Clauss ended with 10 rebounds.
 
The Pipers close out the regular season with a huge matchup with Concordia on February 22, as Hamline and the Cobbers are two of the three teams tied in fifth place in the MIAC standings. The top six teams will make the playoff tournament. Tip off is set for 3:00 p.m. at Hutton Arena.
 
HU will also use their last regular season game to honor their five seniors before the start of the contest.