Macalester Scots Women’s Basketball Opens Season with Tough Loss to St. Kate’s

The Macalester College women’s basketball team opened their 2025-26 season against St. Catherine University. This game marked the start of a new era under head coach AD Donovan.

The Scots put up a fight but dropped the game 68-49 to the Wildcats at the Leonard Center. Both squads finished last season at 12-13, so there was plenty of anticipation for a tight contest.

Several players had impressive moments on the court. In the end, St. Catherine’s hot shooting and well-timed runs made the difference.

If you want a play-by-play, the Macalester Athletics website has a full breakdown.

Game Overview: A New Beginning for Macalester Scots

This season opener meant a lot for Macalester, ushering in head coach AD Donovan’s debut. The Scots wanted to make a statement, but St. Catherine had already notched a win in their first outing and looked sharp.

First Quarter: A Close Start

Both teams came out with tough defense. St. Catherine jumped ahead with a 9-1 run, ending the quarter up 18-12.

Sophomore guard Emma Karlin and first-year guard Megan Matthews each chipped in five points, keeping Macalester within reach.

Second Quarter: Wildcats Pull Ahead

Matthews knocked down a three and added a bucket early, cutting the gap to one. The Wildcats answered with a 12-3 run and stretched their lead to 32-22.

Sophomore forward Cady Davis scored on a layup, but the Scots still trailed 39-27 at halftime. St. Catherine shot an impressive 56.3 percent from the field in the half.

Second Half: Struggles and Highlights

St. Catherine came out of halftime firing, scoring nine straight and pushing their lead to 21. Junior guard Kendall Bernbaum finally broke the streak with a three-pointer.

First-year guard Faith Accardo also hit a three, but the Wildcats kept control of the game.

Third Quarter: Fighting Back

Even as St. Catherine pulled ahead by 20, Macalester kept fighting. Junior guard Mary Daley and Accardo sank free throws, cutting it to 58-42 by the end of the third.

Both teams struggled to find the basket early in the fourth. Davis hit a pair of free throws to trim the deficit to 14.

Fourth Quarter: A Final Push

With under five minutes left, sophomore Samantha Smith drained a three, making it 60-47. St. Catherine responded with an 8-2 run to close it out.

Matthews led Macalester with 10 points and four rebounds in her college debut. Karlin set career highs with eight points and eight rebounds.

Key Performances

Several Scots made their mark in the opener:

• Megan Matthews: Led the team with 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in her first collegiate game.
• Emma Karlin: Notched career-highs with eight points and eight rebounds.
• Samantha Smith: Added seven points and picked up two steals.
• Faith Accardo: Put up seven points.
• Cady Davis and Mary Daley: Both finished with five points and seven rebounds; Daley also dished out four assists.

St. Catherine’s Standout Players

For the Wildcats, Hattie Fox poured in a game-high 22 points. Jordyn Peed chipped in 20 more.

Their efforts really drove St. Catherine to the win.

Looking Ahead

The Scots lost, sure, but they showed flashes of real potential. That kind of resilience matters as the season picks up.