SAINT PETER, Minn. – No. 8 Gustavus women's basketball defeated the Macalester Scots by a score of 65-45 on Wednesday, Jan. 29 to improve to 17-1 overall and 10-1 in the MIAC.
Rachel Kawiecki (Sr., Richfield, Minn.) led the way for the Gusties, shooting 6-for-7 (83.3 percent) from the floor with 14 points. Overall, Gustavus shot 50.9 percent from the floor (28-for-55) and dominated the glass with a 33-19 rebound differential. The Scots (9-9, 4-7 MIAC) struggled from the field, only shooting 13-for-45 (28.9 percent) and 2-for-14 (14.3 percent) from three-point land.
After an early 5-2 deficit, the Gusties went on a 10-0 run to take a 12-5 lead. This held true to the end of the quarter, for a 14-7 Gustavus advantage. Six Gusties contributed for the first 14 points, with
Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.) and
Kendyl Queensland (So., Grand Meadow, Minn.) each with four points. All but one of the Gustie baskets in the first quarter had an assist attached to them, including two from
Kylie Baranick, in her 100th career game and start, for six total.
The Gusties ramped things up in the second quarter, extending their lead to 33-17 by halftime. This was thanks to an 8-0 run in the middle of the frame, where Kawiecki scored four, coupled with Kniefel and
Izzy Quick (5th, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) baskets. In the second stanza, the Gusties dominated on the glass, garnering 10 boards to the Scots five. At halftime, the Gusties shot 48.4% (15-for-31) and held the visitors to only 26.1% (6-for-23).
Macalester only made two shots in the third quarter, but 11 free throws made up for a 2-for-11 (18.3%) showing from the field. The quarter was played well between the whistles, with the Gusties shooting 58.3% (7-for-12) from the field and five different players contributing. By the end of the quarter, the Gusties had extended the lead to 52-32, creating separation to allow Head Coach
Laurie Kelly to give three players their first action of the night in the fourth quarter.
In the final frame, a Gustavus run extended the lead to as much as 58-34, silencing any hope of a comeback for the Scots. Macalester went on a 7-0 run themselves, their largest of the night, but the differential was too steep to overcome. Entering with 3:26 left, junior
Bobbie Bruns (Jr., Blooming Prairie, Minn.) pushed the lead back to 20, adding five points in the way of a driving lay-up and a trey.
The Gusties had over half of their points in the paint, 44 compared to just 22 for the visitors. Contribution off the bench proved to be the difference, where the Gusties found 31 of their points, compared to Macalester's zero. This is the third time in the last four meetings with Macalester that the Gustie defense has held the Scots to 12 shots made.
Kniefel and Kawiecki had 14 points each to pace the Gusties on the offensive end of the court, coupled with five offensive rebounds by Quick out of her seven total boards.
The Gusties return to the court on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. in Minneapolis for a clash with Augsburg (3-15, 1-10 MIAC).
