SAINT PETER, Minn. – No. 10 Gustavus women's basketball waited nearly a month to play its first home game, and, when the team finally took center stage at Gus Young Court, it did not disappoint. The Gusties (5-0 overall), who moved up to No. 10 in both the WBCA and D3hoops.com national rankings, hit a season-high 13 three-pointers to deliver Colorado College (4-1 overall) its first loss of the season. Despite an early lead for the Tigers, Gustavus used efficient second half shooting and a balanced offense led by
Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.) and
Morgan Kelly (Sr., Saint Peter, Minn.) to claim its fifth consecutive win in its final game before the holiday break.
Colorado College shot 60 percent from the field in the first half, but struggled to make free throws, allowing the Gusties, who shot a meager 26.5 from the field (9-for-34), to take a one point lead at 28-27. Gustavus flipped the script in the third quarter, though, scoring 28 on 11-for-15 shooting, including 4-of-5 from long range. An even 22-22 fourth quarter wasn't enough for the Tigers to overcome the lead, helping to the No. 10-ranked team's first home victory of the season.
Both teams missed the first four shots of the game until the Tigers opened the scoring two minutes in. Colorado went 7-for-11 from the field for an early lead, including an eight-point advantage at 11-5 and 16-8. Kniefel and the Gusties slowly began to chip away at the advantage, with the Medford native sinking a three-pointer as time expired to beat the buzzer and cut the lead to 16-11 at the end of quarter one.
The Tigers went on a seven-point scoring run in the second frame, but sustained offense from the Gusties, as well as four offensive rebounds, helped the home team take the lead. A trey from Kelly put the Gusties within two points at 22-20, leading to an 8-2 run for Gustavus, featuring a three out of the hands of
Kylie Baranick (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) as well. Kelly sunk one more from beyond the arc to give the Gusties just enough separation to lead 28-27 at halftime.
The Gusties, who have showcased their defensive prowess so far this season, turned up the offensive heat in the third quarter, opening the first four minutes with an 18-6 scoring run, highlighted by 7-for-9 shooting and four made from three. Colorado responded, though, as the Tigers clawed their way back into the game with 11 points from Kayla Mackel, as well as their first made three-pointer of the night.
Heading into the final frame up 56-50, the Gusties forced six turnovers in the fourth quarter and were fouled five times to hold onto the lead.
Syd Hauger (Sr., Springfield, Minn.) and
Olivia Grothaus (Fy., Hudson, Wis.) chipped in a three-pointer alongside Kniefel to keep the game just out of reach. Colorado called a number of late timeouts and scored seven points in the final 1:30 of the game, but it wasn't enough to get past the No. 10 team in the nation, which rolled to a 78-72 victory, the team's highest scoring game of the season.
Kniefel led the team with 21 points, just three shy of her season high set against Eau Claire a few weeks ago. The fifth-year shot 8-for-17 from the field, making three of eight from distance. She also added three rebounds, seven assists, and a steal in a near complete game. Kelly, in her first start of the season, was dominant on all fronts, shooting 7-for-12 from the field with a trio of three pointers, seven rebounds, an assist, and a block. Hauger and Baranick rounded out the offense with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
The four point leaders each sunk three from beyond the arc to help the Gusties collect 13 total Monday evening, two better than the previous season-high 11 at Eau Claire on Nov. 10 and two shy of the program single game record of 15 set Jan. 18, 2012 against Hamline.
The Gusties will enjoy the rest of the week off before entering conference play on Dec. 4 against Augsburg at Gus Young Court. The MIAC opener will be the first game in a five-game home-stand for Gustavus, featuring a match-up against league rival Concordia (Dec. 7) and the conclusion of the team's non-conference schedule.
