Carleton (22-2, 19-2 MIAC) can win the title outright by beating Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday. The Blazers (20-4, 18-3 MIAC) could still gain a share of the crown by beating Macalester College on Saturday and having the Gusties beat the Knights.
It marked the sixth consecutive time the two teams have met when both are nationally ranked.
Anna Heikenen led the Blazers with 22 points while Kim Johnson added 14 points, all in the second half, and grabbed 11 rebounds. The Blazers, who lead the nation in three-point percentage, made 13-of-24 shots behind the arc but only 13-o-30 from inside the three-point line.
Linnea Engel added 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Carleton while Megan Vig was also in double figures with 11.
The Knights led nearly the entire game, breaking to an early 20-10 lead on an Engel lay-up midway through the first half. The hosts built the advantage to as many as 12, taking a 39-31 lead at the break.
The Blazers pulled within five points at 49-44 on a triple by Brittney Johnson, but Carleton responded with lay-ups by Andrea Korb and Beth Freeman and a Vig three-pointer to push the lead back to 12 with 10:53 left. The Knights led by 14 before the Blazers rallied, getting consecutive three-pointers by Johnson, a Johnson three-point play and a Darby Noreen three, making it 66-63 with 4:17 left.
Katie Freeman drilled a three from the corner and Engel answered Heikenen's inside bucket with a three-point play. The Blazers got with in three on a Heikenen three-point play, but Beth Freeman made a three-pointer with 29 seconds left for the final tally.
Carleton outscored the taller Blazers 46-20 in points in the paint and held a 23-9 edge in points off turnovers.