SAINT PAUL, Minn. - No. 6/7 Gustavus women's basketball rolled to another decisive MIAC victory Saturday afternoon, defeating Hamline 71-51. The Gusties improve to 13-1 overall and 9-0 in the MIAC, while the Pipers drop to 6-7 overall and 4-5 in the league.
Hamline sunk a three-pointer 1:12 into the game for the early lead but the Gusties responded moments later with free throws from
Izzy Quick and a jumper by
Rachel Kawiecki to gain a lead they did not relinquish the rest of the contest. Gustavus led by as much as 13 points in the opening frame and carried a 20-9 lead into the second.
A layup by
Riley Queensland with 4:13 remaining in the first half gave the Gusties their largest lead of the half at 35-15 and they went into the break up 37-18.
"We didn't play a perfect game by any means but in the first half I thought we played well defensively which takes a lot of pressure off our offense," Head Coach
Laurie Kelly said.
The Pipers dropped the difference to 14 points with a three-pointer four minutes into the third quarter, but that was the closest they got as the Gusties answered with a 14-2 run to close out the third with a 58-32 advantage. Coach Kelly was able to clear her bench in the fourth quarter, playing all 15 dressed players with 11 Gusties getting on the score sheet.
"I thought we were really good on the glass and the third quarter was important for us as we shot well," Kelly said. "We got our bench in the game to rest our starters for a quick turnaround on Monday."
The Gusties shot 40.3 percent from the floor and were 7-of-30 from long distance. The visitors were dominant on the boards, out-rebounding the Pipers 44-28 with Quick hauling in a game-high nine rebounds. Kawiecki led the offense with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including seven rebounds (six offensive), three assists, and two blocks.
Emma Kniefel added 13 points, six boards, three steals, an assist, and a block.
Gustavus next travels to Saint Benedict on Monday night.
