ST. PAUL, Minn. – No. 6 Gustavus women's basketball out-scored Macalester 35-15 in the second half to earn its 12th win a row and fifth in the MIAC Wednesday night at Alumni Gymnasium. The Gusties shot 48.4 percent from the field in the final two quarters, led by nine points from
Syd Hauger (5th, Springfield, Minn.) to extend their lead after holding just a two point edge at the half.
Gustavus went 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) from the field in the first two quarters, hitting only one of 11 shots from three-point land, while Macalester (7-5, 2-3 MIAC) scored 16 of their 19 first half points in the paint to keep pace with the nationally-ranked Gusties. Hauger and the visitors turned up the heat immediately after the break, finishing the game 38.6 percent (22-for-57) from the field, still well below the team's season-average, and held MAC to just three made shots from the floor in the final 20 minutes.
The Gusties and the Scots exchanged baskets to start the game, playing to a trio of tie scores before
Kylie Baranick (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) put the Gusties up by four, 12-8, on a pair of made free throws. Hauger hit one of her own for a 13-8 Gustie lead at the end of the first quarter, with six different players on the scoresheet.
Production slowed in the second frame, as the visitors struggled to make shots from the field. Meanwhile, Macalester hit five of nine attempted to out-score the Gusties 11-8 and close the gap to two at the break, 21-19. Gustavus turned the ball over just once in the second quarter, but went 1-for-8 from long range and 1-for-4 from the line heading into the locker room.
A pep talk from Head Coach
Laurie Kelly proved to make the difference down the stretch, as the Gusties opened the third with a 15-2 run, shooting 53.8 percent thanks to a balanced offense led by
Rachel Kawiecki (Sr., Richfield, Minn.). Kawiecki scored four quick points and assisted a Baranick three-pointer to head into the final frame up 15, 39-24.
Hauger took control of the floor in the second half, shooting 4-for-6 with an offensive rebound, a foul drawn, and nine total points. She, along with
Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.) put the game out of reach to start the fourth quarter with 16 combined points between the two fifth-year seniors. Coach Kelly was able to work a number of players into the game late, with the Gustie defense forcing seven turnovers and collecting four steals to hold the previously inspired Macalester offense to 15 second half points.
The Gusties finished with 21 points off 23 Macalester turnovers and eight second chance points thanks to 13 offensive rebounds. The two teams matched each other in the paint with 22 points apiece, while Gustavus dominated the battle on the glass, 37-29, including a 13-5 margin on offensive boards.
Kniefel led all scorers with 14 points, followed by Hauger with 10.
Izzy Quick (5th, Brooklyn Park, Minn.), Kawiecki, and
Morgan Kelly (Sr., Saint Peter, Minn.) each finished with six. Quick led the team's rebounding efforts with eight total, five of which were offensive, while Baranick dished out four assists and collected a team-high three steals.
Katherine Norquist led the Scots with 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting, while Peyton Starks hauled in seven rebounds to lead her team.
The No. 6 Gusties return home to Gus Young Court to host St. Scholastica (7-5, 4-1 MIAC) at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
