The victory was Carleton's eighth consecutive and 18th straight at West Gym. It marked the seventh time in eight MIAC games the Knights have held a conference foe to less than 60 points and the third time in the last four games Carleton's opponent hasn't cracked the 50-point barrier.
Carleton (8-3, 8-0 MIAC) scored 17 of the game's first 23 points and forced St. Kate's into 17 turnovers, holding a 16-3 edge in points off turnovers.
The Wildcats (4-7, 2-6 MIAC) were paced by Rebecca Theis with 11 points and five rebounds off the bench. She was the only player to score in double figures for the visitors. The turnovers and a 3-of-13 performance from the line hurt any chances the Wildcats had against the nation's 23rd-ranked team.
Carleton broke to a 13-2 lead as Christianson scored seven of her points in the first four minutes. Carleton extended the lead to as many as 15 before Rachel Bergland drilled a three-pointer at the horn to leave the Knights ahead, 34-22, at the break.
The Knights enjoyed a double-digit lead most of the second half and finally put the pesky Wildcats away with 10 unanswered points over a five-minute stretch. Christianson blocked a shot at the defensive end and scored inside to start the spurt, with a Kate Krueger steal leading to a Vig fast-break lay-up to cap the run.
Neither team shot the ball well, as the Knights made 37 percent of their shots compared to 35 percent for St. Kate’s. Carleton, however, made 16-of-22 from the charity stripe and committed a season-low 10 turnovers.
College of St. Catherine vs Carleton College 01/12/05 7:30 P.M. at Northfield, MN At Northfield, MN CARLETON COLLEGE 63, COLLEGE OF ST. CATHERINE 44 COLLEGE OF ST. CATHERINE (4-7 (2-6 MIAC)) Rebecca Theis 4-6 3-4 11; Shelly Soule 4-12 0-1 9; Kate Bremmer 3-10 0-2 7; Sarah Schneider 3-10 0-4 6; Trisha Johnson 3-7 0-0 6; Rachel Bergland 1-2 0-0 3; Natalie Lyzhoft 1-7 0-2 2; Michel Weinhagen 0-1 0-0 0; Ashley Prokosch 0-0 0-0 0; Jennifer Symanietz 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-55 3-13 44. CARLETON COLLEGE (8-3 (8-0 MIAC)) Megan Vig 7-22 3-4 17; Kristi Colbenson 5-8 5-6 15; Kari Christianson 6-16 2-4 15; Andrea Korb 1-2 4-4 6; Katie Freeman 3-3 0-0 6; Cassie Hammond 1-4 2-2 4; Becky Craig 0-0 0-0 0; Andrea Dahl 0-3 0-0 0; Emily Strandmark 0-0 0-2 0; Joy Esboldt 0-2 0-0 0; Kate Krueger 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-62 16-22 63. College of St. Catherine...... 22 22 - 44 Carleton College.............. 34 29 - 63 3-point goals-College of St. Catherine 3-13 (Kate Bremmer 1-3; Rachel Bergland 1-2; Shelly Soule 1-2; Natalie Lyzhoft 0-5; Michel Weinhagen 0-1), Carleton College 1-10 (Kari Christianson 1-3; Kristi Colbenson 0-1; Kate Krueger 0-1; Megan Vig 0-5). Fouled out--College of St. Catherine-None, Carleton College-None. Rebounds-College of St. Catherine 40 (Shelly Soule 8), Carleton College 44 (Kristi Colbenson 10). Assists-College of St. Catherine 2 (Rachel Bergland 1; Sarah Schneider 1), Carleton College 12 (Kate Krueger 4). Total fouls-College of St. Catherine 20, Carleton College 14. A-250