HELENA, Mont. - The Carroll Women's Basketball team picked up a hard earned win over Grace (Ind.), 49-45 on Thursday evening at the PE Center in Helena.

The Fighting Saints (7-2) managed to overcome their worst shooting effort of the season, and pick up a four point win in the low-scoring affair with the Lancers (4-6).

Grace's 2-3 zone forced Carroll into three point shots early in the game, and the Saints went 3-9 from beyond the arc in an opening frame that would find the Lancers on top 14-13. Addi Ekstrom (Bozeman, Mont. / JR) made both of her three-point attempts in the first to keep Carroll on pace.

The second quarter would prove to be the lowest scoring, on both ends, that the Saints have seen all season. The proverbial lid was on the basket for both teams, who combined to shoot just 5-32 from the field in the quarter. Carroll would convert their opportunities at the line, however, and would take a 23-20 lead into the break.

Willa Albrecht (Billings, Mont. / R-JR) would lead the way for the Saints coming out of the half, scoring five third quarter points, but a persistent Grace team would not go down quietly. The Lancers out-scored the Saints 15-14, and narrowed the lead to just two points heading into the final quarter.

Addi Ekstrom book-ended her great night with eight fourth quarter points to help close the door on the Grace comeback, and Carroll would escape with a 49-45 win on what can only be described as an off night offensively.

Carroll shot a season-low 25.8 percent from the field (16-62), but good teams find a way to win when they don't have their best stuff.

Jamie Pickens (Helena, Mont. / GR) had a quiet night, but managed to reach yet another milestone in her storied career. Pickens now sits at No. 4 on the Carroll all-time scoring list (1,510), surpassing her former teammate, Christine Denny.

Ekstrom led all players with 14 points, and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go with three assists. Maddie Geritz (Boise, Idaho / GR) added 12 points and eight boards as well.

The Lancers were led by Morganne Houk's 12 points and six boards.

Carroll has an early wake-call tomorrow, as they depart to Honolulu for the Hawaii Classic this weekend.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a preview of that event, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.