ST. JOSEPH, Minn. - A strong first quarter performance Monday night set the tone for the Gustavus women's basketball team as it collected another conference victory, 77-62 at Saint Benedict. The Gusties, ranked No. 6 in today's d3hoops.com Top 25 poll, improve to 14-1 overall and 10-0 in the MIAC.
"That was a good clean game on both sides and we're happy to close out our road trip with another win," Head Coach
Laurie Kelly said. "Right when we thought we were able to pull away and really put the game out of reach, they would go on a run, so credit to Saint Ben's for playing us tough right after they came off a double overtime game."
In an otherwise evenly-played game, the first quarter was all Gustavus as it doubled up the Bennies 24-12 in the opening 10 minutes. Saint Ben's led 5-4 after the first three minutes, but the Gusties answered with five consecutive made shots and a 10-0 run and never relinquished the lead.
The Bennies were able to cut the deficit back to single digits in the second quarter, outscoring the Gusties 18-13 in the second frame for a 37-30 halftime score.
Saint Ben's continued to cut into the Gustie lead early in the third quarter, bringing the difference to five points, but that was the closest it got the rest of the game as the Gusties answered with another 10-0 run, highlighted by three consecutive made shots by
Rachel Kawiecki. The Gusties maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Kawiecki posted a career-high 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting.
Morgan Kelly was next on the score sheet with 16 points in 22 minutes off the bench.
Syd Hauger added 14 points and six rebounds, while
Emma Kniefel led the team on the glass with a career-high 10 rebounds.
Gustavus shot 56.7 percent from the field but made just 1-of-10 three-pointers. The Bennies were held to 37.9 percent from the floor. Rebounds were nearly even with the Gusties holding a 34-31 advantage. Gustavus controlled the paint, out-scoring the Bennies 52-22 from close range.
"We felt we had an advantage inside and we were able to score early in the paint with our guards," Kelly said.
The Gusties are next in action Saturday afternoon at home against Augsburg.
