MOORHEAD, Minn. – For the last four seasons, the long trip up to Concordia has been a consistent downfall of the Gustavus women's basketball team, having not won at Memorial Auditorium since 2021-22. That streak came to an end Saturday afternoon, as the Gusties (16-1, 9-1 MIAC) rolled to a 56-42 victory over the Cobbers thanks to hot shooting in the first half.
The Gusties shot 46.6 percent (14-for-30) in the first half and held Concordia (11-6, 6-4 MIAC) to just six made shots through the first two quarters. The Cobbers used free throws to stay in the game, making 11-of-13 to start, while the Gusties were only awarded three from the line in the first 20 minutes. A 17-6 third quarter sealed the road victory for
Laurie Kelly's Gusties, many of which earned their first career win up north.
Both teams missed their first shots of the game, but
Morgan Kelly (Sr., Saint Peter, Minn.) got the Gusties on the board early with back-to-back layups.
Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.) added one of her own after a Cobber turnover to spark a 9-2 run for the visitors in the first quarter. Points from each of Kelly's seniors and eight Concordia turnovers gave the Gusties a 16-11 lead after the first frame.
Concordia scored half of its second quarter points from the charity stripe, going 7-for-9 from the line, but seven made from the floor, including five points from
Syd Hauger (5th, Springfield, Minn.) put the Gusties up 31-25 at the break.
The dominant third quarter was a result of no trips to the line for the Cobbers, who made just three shots from the field after the break. The calls fell in favor of the Gusties, who hit 9-of-10 free throws, including a perfect 6-for-6 mark for Hauger. Despite missing all eight attempts from three-point land, six steals and a rebound margin of five put the game out of reach, 48-31, heading into the final quarter.
The Cobbers out-scored the Gusties 11-8 in the final 10 minutes, forcing six Gustavus turnovers, but
Izzy Quick (5th, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) hit all of her shots and
Kylie Baranick (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) grabbed three rebounds off the glass to seal the 14-point victory, 56-42.
Shooting slowed down after the first half, as Gustavus finished 38.9 percent from the floor (21-for-54), making only two of 16 attempted three-pointers. The Gusties were 12-for-17 from the line, with the largest lead at 19 in the third quarter. Concordia shot a bleak 27.1 percent (13-for-48), hitting 3-of-18 from distance and 13-of-15 free throws. The Gusties capitalized on 19 Cobber turnovers for 17 points, and won the battle of the boards 34-26, getting seven second chance points off eight offensive rebounds.
Hauger led all scorers with 16 points, also collecting a game-high three steals. Kniefel chipped in 10 points and nine boards to nearly complete the double-double, as well as a team-leading five assists.
Concordia's Makayla Anderson scored 13 and added 12 rebounds as well as a pair of steals to lead the home team. All but one Cobber that saw time on the floor conceded a turnover.
The Gusties return home to host Macalester (9-8, 4-6 MIAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Changes to the MIAC basketball scheduling will result in the early game of each Gustie basketball doubleheader for the rest of the season, with the women tipping off at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and 1 p.m. on all remaining Saturdays.
