The loss left the Knights' MIAC lead at one game with two left on the regular-season slate. Carleton (16-5, 16-2 MIAC) must win both games to clinch the conference title outright.
St. Olaf (8-14, 7-11 MIAC) was paced by Kristy Larson's career-high 23 points, including a jumper in the lane with 21 seconds which proved to be the difference. The win snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Knights for the Oles and left them in contention for the sixth and final MIAC Playoff berth. They still trail St. Thomas, which upset St. Mary's today, by one game, but would hold the tiebreaker on the Tommies as it now stands.
It looked as if Carleton might run away with the game early, as Vig scored 11 of Carleton's first 17 points, pushing the Knights to a 17-9 advantage. The Oles quickly answered back, as Larson personally scored seven straight St. Olaf points and cutting the Knight lead to 19-16. Carleton led 26-22 before the hosts closed the final 3:50 of the half with an 11-2 spurt, capped by a Christina Sampson three-pointer to lead 33-28 at the break. Carleton missed two shots and committed four turnovers during the Ole spurt.
Beth Freeman and Kristi Colbenson scored early in the half, pulling the Knights with ine at 35-34. Larson again had the answer, scoring on three consecutive possessions down low and pushing the Oles out in front, 41-35. They extended the margin to 10 midway through the half on a Holly Grimsrud triple, but the Knights answered with a Colbenson bucket and Katie Freeman three.
Trailing 54-50 with 4:45 left, Andrea Korb scored on a backdoor lay-up and made one of two free throws, pulling the Knights within 54-53 with 3:11 left and it appeared the second meeting of the season might end like the first when Carleton rallied late to pull off a 53-52 victory. Larson answered, however, with a turnaround bucket in the lane and after two Jenny Dettle free throws, Carleton trailed 58-53 with two minutes left. Vig calmly sank two free throws, but Sampson drained an 18-footer from the corner, making it 60-55. After a Carleton offensive foul, Larson missed inside and Katie Freeman found Vig behind the Ole defense on the break. The junior converted on the lay-up, was fouled and made the free throw, leaving the Knights down 60-58. The Oles calmly worked the clock down and got the ball inside to Larson, who scored over Vig with 21 seconds left. Cassie Hammond canned an 18-foot jumper with 11 seconds left and Simon missed the front end of a one-and-one with three seconds remaining, but Colbenson's half-court heave was just off the mark at the horn, sending Carleton to its second loss in three games.
The Knights are back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 16, hosting St. Mary's in the final regular-season home game of the year. Tip time is 7:30 p.m.
Carleton College vs St. Olaf College 02/12/05 1:00 at Skoglund Center At Skoglund Center ST. OLAF COLLEGE 62, CARLETON COLLEGE 60 CARLETON COLLEGE (16-4) Megan Vig 9-14 4-5 23; Beth Freeman 4-9 3-4 11; Katie Freeman 3-9 0-0 8; Kristi Colbenson 3-7 1-4 7; Kate Krueger 2-3 0-0 4; Andrea Korb 1-2 1-2 3; Cassie Hammond 1-1 0-0 2; Andrea Dahl 1-1 0-0 2; Emily Strandmark 0-2 0-0 0; Taylor Ross 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-49 9-15 60. ST. OLAF COLLEGE (7-14) Kristy Larson 11-19 1-4 23; Molly Simon 4-14 0-1 9; Christina Sampson 3-7 0-0 7; Chr. Schwichtenberg 3-4 1-2 7; Kristina Stoermer 3-7 0-0 6; Holly Grimsrud 1-4 0-0 3; Danielle Stoermer 1-1 1-2 3; Jenny Dettle 0-3 2-2 2; Lindsey Saunders 1-1 0-0 2; Vicky Peterson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 5-11 62. Carleton College.............. 28 32 - 60 St. Olaf College.............. 33 29 - 62 3-point goals-Carleton College 3-11 (Katie Freeman 2-4; Megan Vig 1-3; Kristi Colbenson 0-1; Kate Krueger 0-1; Andrea Korb 0-1; Emily Strandmark 0-1), St. Olaf College 3-13 (Christina Sampson 1-2; Holly Grimsrud 1-3; Molly Simon 1-7; Vicky Peterson 0-1). Fouled out--Carleton College-Beth Freeman, St. Olaf College-None. Rebounds-Carleton College 37 (Megan Vig 10), St. Olaf College 30 (Jenny Dettle 4). Assists-Carleton College 16 (Katie Freeman 6), St. Olaf College 11 (Christina Sampson 3; Molly Simon 3). Total fouls-Carleton College 15, St. Olaf College 15. A-620