SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus women's basketball team closed out the 2024 calendar year with an impressive win at Gus Young Court Monday night, defeating Bethany Lutheran 89-46 in the Gusties' first game back after the holiday break. Gustavus (10-0 overall, 3-0 MIAC) posted season-highs in points scored, field goals made (36), field goals attempted (76), assists (25), and steals (22) in the victory, with four players scoring in double digits.
The Gusties took control of the game immediately after tip, and never took their foot off the gas, forcing a season-high 31 turnovers that resulted in 36 points. The team finished shooting 47.4 percent from the field, including a mark of 50 percent or better in three of four quarters. Gustavus put the game out of reach early and held the Vikings (1-10 overall) to just six second quarter points before scoring 23 in each of the last two frames to pick up the convincing win, their 10th in a row.
Rachel Kawiecki (Sr., Richfield, Minn.) led things off for the first basket of the game, capitalizing off an offensive rebound for a quick layup. Her quick score and a steal from
Syd Hauger (5th, Springfield, Minn.) set the tone, while the Gustavus defense prevented the Vikings from making a basket for the first 4:10 of play, forcing four turnovers and holding BLC to just one made shot from the floor. Bethany's Juliana Ewald helped the visitors attempt to close the gap for the remainder of quarter one, but 15 points from five different players on 7-for-9 shooting put the Gusties up 26-14 after the first 10 minutes.
Morgan Kelly (Sr., Saint Peter, Minn.) led the team to an impressive second frame, opening with a quick jumper to keep the points flowing for the Black & Gold. Kelly collected a steal and a rebound, and shot 3-for-5 en route to a lopsided 17-6 second quarter. She and the Gusties posted an 11-2 run to end the frame, heading into the locker room doubled up on BLC, 43-20. The Vikings entered the break after going 0-for-7 from the floor without a field goal made in the final eight minutes of quarter two.
Eight different Gusties got on the score sheet in the third quarter, as the team shot 9-for-15 while holding the Vikings scoreless for over five minutes after the break.
Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.) was impressive up and down the court, as the fifth-year posted four points, four rebounds, a steal, a block, and five assists in the third quarter to lead her team into the final frame up 66-34. Gustavus nearly finished the game with double that of Bethany Lutheran's score, as
Peyton Stevermer (So., Mankato, Minn.) hit a late three-pointer off a assist from
Anna Goodman (Fy., Lakeville, Minn.) to give the team its largest lead of the game at 89-44. BLC ended the game with a layup in the final three seconds, but it was merely consolation, as the Gusties closed things out 89-46 in their final non-conference game of the season.
Gustavus finished with seven made from long range to shoot 41.2 percent from three, the team's second-best mark of the season so far. The Gusties won the battle of the boards, 36-33, collecting double digit offensive rebounds for the sixth time this season, resulting in 21 second chance points. The 22 steals are the most for Gustavus since Dec. 3, 2022, a 23-steal performance in an 89-40 win over Macalester. Bethany Lutheran finished shooting 30 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from beyond the arc, scoring 12 of their 46 points on free throws. The Vikings turned the ball over 31 times and collected only five steals.
Kniefel and
Kylie Baranick (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) finished with the team lead in points with 17, both shooting above 55 percent. Kelly went 5-for-8 for 14 points, while Kawiecki added 12 on 5-for-9 shooting. Kniefel and Goodman led the squad with six rebounds, followed by five each for Kelly and Kawiecki. Kniefel also collected a season-high eight assists, while Goodman added six. Six Gusties picked up more than one steal, led by Baranick with a season-high five, which also matches her career-best, previously achieved Feb. 18, 2023 at Saint Mary's.
BLC's Juliana Ewald led all scorers with 21 points in 27 minutes of play, finishing 7-for-15 from the floor. She also conceded a game-high six turnovers.
After six consecutive home games, the Gusties will hit the road for a pair of games in St. Paul, starting 2025 off at St. Catherine (5-4, 2-2 MIAC) on Saturday before heading to Macalester (7-3, 2-1 MIAC) on Wednesday to reopen conference play in the new year.
