NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women's basketball team was defeated, 63-26, by Hamline University in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play on Saturday at Skoglund Center.

In the second meeting between the two teams in eight days, Hamline (14-3, 8-2 MIAC) moved into a tie for first place in the conference standings by holding St. Olaf (5-12, 0-10 MIAC) to a season-low point total. Last Saturday, the Oles played the Pipers even through three quarters, but Hamline led for 37:23 and trailed for just 1:27 in the second meeting.

Juniors Joy Brandenstein and Bree Wilkerson hit a pair of three-pointers apiece to lead St. Olaf in scoring with seven and six points, respectively. Sophomore Elise Hahn grabbed eight rebounds and had five steals in the loss.

Camille Cummings was the lone double-digit scorer for either team with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting in 15 minutes for the Pipers. Hamline scored over half of its points (32-of-63) off St. Olaf turnovers and held advantages of 32-4 in points in the paint and 28-2 in bench scoring.

Hamline shot 9-for-16 (56.3 percent) from the field, including 4-for-6 (66.7 percent) from three-point range, in the opening quarter to take a 24-8 lead. Wilkerson and sophomore Grace Gertner connected on three-pointers for the lone two field goals of the quarter for the Oles.

After the 24-point opening quarter, St. Olaf held Hamline to 14 or fewer points in each of the final three quarters but could not get its offense going against the top-scoring defense in the MIAC. The Pipers are limiting their conference opponents to an average of 50.2 points per game this season.

The Oles will be back at home on Wednesday, Jan. 28 for a 7 p.m. meeting with St. Catherine University.