Junior Kayla Mackel dished out a career-high 24 points to lead the Colorado College women's basketball team over Macalester College 62-57 to win the Twin Cities Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 23. Mackel shot 10-21, including 4-10 from three-point range as CC moves to 4-0 to start the season. 
 
Mackel matched her career-high in points she first accomplished against Centenary on Dec. 31, 2023. The Houston native made the go-ahead three-pointer with a minute and 25 seconds left to put CC up 57-56. Laura Strenk made two critical free throws with 21 seconds left to increase the lead to three, and Zoë Tomlinson blocked the potential game-tying three-pointer to seal the victory. 
 
The Tigers trailed by 13 points at the half after scoring only 18 points in the first two quarters combined. In the third, CC dished out 22 points and shot 61.54 percent on the floor to crawl back into the game. 
 
Macalester managed to maintain a seven-point lead entering the fourth quarter. Still, the Tigers managed to decrease the deficit to two buckets after Tomlinson made three free throws with 4:08 left. 
 
Two more converts from ethe charity stripe by Strenk were made to make it 55-54. Tomlison once again got to the line after ggetting fouled at 2:19 left and tied it up at 55-55 after making the first attempt, but missed the second. 
 
The Scots retook the lead on the next possession with a layup inside the paint. In ean ffort to go up again with another lay-in, Healy Bledsoe blocked the attempt, which turned into a transition opportunity for the Tigers and Mackel nailed the go-ahead three pointer after stopping on a whym and pulling the trigger. 
 
Macalester couldn't convert on anotehr field goal and the Tigers sealed the game with free throws to win 62-57. 
 
The Tigers 50.77 percent in the second half compared to 27.89 percent in the first. Defensively, CC held its opposition to a 23.53 shooting percentage in the final quarter. The Tigers held the Scots to only four made field goals in the final 10 minutes. 
 
Bledsoe led the Tigers with 10 rebounds and finished with six points, three assists, three blocks and a steal. Tomlinson was the other Tiger to finish in double digits. The All-American also grabbed eight rebounds, a block and a steal. 
 
CC remains perfect through the first four games and will close out the road trip with a battle with No. 10 Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, Minn. on Monday, Nov. 25. 
 
Next weekend, the Tigers will return home to Reid Arena to host the Colorado College Fall Classic starting with four quarters against Mary Hardin-Baylor on Friday, Nov. 29th.