WINONA, Minn. – No. 6 Gustavus women's basketball extended its winning streak to 14 on the season and seven in the MIAC, dealing Saint Mary's a decisive 71-41 conference setback in Winona on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The Gusties waited for the fourth quarter to turn the heat up on the Cardinals (6-7, 4-3 MIAC), who missed all 18 attempts from three-point land Wednesday night. The Gustavus bench played a key role in the game, chipping in 28 points, including a career-high 10 from
Ella Peters (So., River Falls, Wis.), to out-score SMU in each frame, including a mark of 22-6 in quarter four. The Gusties finished shooting 41.7 percent (25-for-60) and 100 percent (15-for-15) from the line for the second time this season, holding the Cardinals to a mark of 32.7 percent (17-for-52) on their home court.
The Gusties struggled from the floor in the first quarter, going just 6-for-17 (35.3 percent), but made all four of their free throws and forced five Saint Mary's turnovers to lead 16-9 at the end of the first frame.
Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.) opened the game with a quick six points, while Gustavus hauled in four offensive boards against the MIAC's top-rebounding team (39.3 rpg) to keep the Cardinals at arm's length.
Both teams played nearly four minutes of scoreless basketball to open quarter two, with a combined five turnovers and nine missed shots. After a sub of the team's traditional starters, Peters and
Morgan Kelly (Sr., Saint Peter, Minn.) turned the tables, helping the Gusties go 5-for-10 in the final four minutes before the break, with Kelly hitting the game's first three-pointer. Luckily for the Gusties, Saint Mary's experienced the same first half woes, shooting a mere 30.4 percent (7-for-23), missing all 11 attempts from beyond the arc through the first two quarters for a 28-17 Gustavus lead at the half.
Shots began to fall for both teams after the break, exchanging buckets on possessions for an even 12-12 run to open the third quarter. The Gusties hit 3-of-5 attempts from distance thanks to
Kylie Baranick (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.), Peters, and
Syd Hauger (5th, Springfield, Minn.), who pushed the lead to 49-35 with seven third quarter points.
Gustavus turned the heat up in the fourth quarter, out-scoring Saint Mary's 22-6 in the final 10 minutes. Head Coach
Laurie Kelly was able to work in playing time for many of her underclassmen, who did not disappoint, shooting 7-for-13 from the floor and hauling in 13 rebounds, four of which were pulled down by
Bella DeHaan (Fy., Lakeville, Minn.). The Cardinals, who turned the ball over three times in the final frame, went 2-for-15 to close out the game and allow a 30-point Gustavus victory.
The Gusties scored 11 points off 15 SMU turnovers, and added 11 second chance points from 11 offensive boards. The Gustie bench totaled 28 compared to just nine points for the Saint Mary's non-starters. The team's 15 made free throws were a season-high, marking the second time the 2024-25 squad has hit every shot from the charity stripe. The 2006-07 Gusties were the last team to post two perfect free throw games in one season (9-for-9 vs. Carleton on Jan. 17, 2007; 4-for-4 vs. St. Olaf on Feb. 14, 2007). Wednesday's game was also the second time Gustavus has held its opponent to zero made from three-point range (0-for-5 at Macalester on Jan. 8, 2025).
Hauger was the team's point leader for the second game in a row, putting up 15 on 5-for-9 shooting. Kniefel added 11 and a team-high three steals, while Peters rounded out the top three scorers with 10 points. Kelly hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds, nine of which were defensive, while
Izzy Quick (5th, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) had four off the glass on each end of the court.
Anna Goodman (Fy., Lakeville, Minn.) and Baranick each dished out five assists.
The Gusties return home to Gus Young Court on host Bethel on Saturday, Jan. 18 for a battle of the last two unbeaten teams in the MIAC. The Royals (10-4, 7-0 MIAC) also collected a 30-point victory Wednesday night, defeating Carleton 77-47 at home.
