MANKATO, Minn. – The Gustavus women's basketball team traveled down Highway 169 on Tuesday for a matchup against neighbors Bethany Lutheran, where the Gusties topped the Vikings, 83-51. Gustavus scored 19 points or more in each quarter and shot 51.5% to send the Gusties into Thanksgiving with a win.
The game started hot for Gustavus, jumping out to a 13-2 lead. Peyton Stevermer (Jr., Mankato, Minn.) and Ella Peters (Jr., River Falls, Wis.) both put up four each on the run to help set the tone for the rest of the night. The Gusties were able to attempt 20 field goals in the first quarter due to forcing nine turnovers by the Vikings. Gustavus capitalized on these opportunities, scoring 11 points off turnovers in the first quarter to help take a 19-13 lead into the first break.
The Gusties extended their lead in the second quarter, taking a halftime lead 39-21 after a 20-8 second session. This was courtesy of a 12-2 run in the first four minutes of the quarter and allowing three total field goals for the Vikings across the quarter. After two points in the first quarter, junior Whitley Ronn (Lakeville, Minn.) exploded for 11 points in the second quarter to lead Gustavus with 13 points at the halfway point. Olivia Grothaus (So., Hudson, Wis.) helped cushion the lead with five points in the last two minutes to push it to 18 at halftime.
The third quarter continued the same tune as the first two quarters, with five points in the first two minutes to start the half off right. Bethany then went on a 9-6 run, looking to tighten the gap, but the Gusties would have none of it, going on a 16-3 run in the last five minutes of the period to end the third quarter up by 28, 61-33. Seven different players scored in the third quarter, where the leading scorer for the Gusties in the third only scored five points. The team shot 62.5% from the floor and collected 10 rebounds, compared to Bethany's 33.3% and five, respectively.
Both teams shot more efficiently in the fourth quarter, shooting over 50% from the first. Gustavus shot 2-for-3 (66.7%) from three-point land and Bethany shot 4-for-8 (50%). In her first minutes, first-year Ellie Davis (Cambridge, Minn.) made her impression, scoring the final six points of the game in a 46-second flurry.
83 points is the most the Gusties have scored in a game this year, 28 points above average across the three prior games. Multiple statistical categories reached team season highs, including field goals made (34), three-pointers made (8), assists (17), and steals (16). Individually, the team set highs as well, including Ronn with 18 points, seven field goals made, four three-pointers made, and five steals, all season highs for an individual. Ronn also led the team with six rebounds and no turnovers, whereas Anna Goodman (So., Lakeville, Minn.) led with six assists and Stevermer pitched in with five herself. All 19 players saw playing time tonight for the Gusties, including six players making their debut in the Black and Gold, Davis, Miranda Palmby (Fy., Dover, Minn.), Addy Kath (Fy., Glenwood, Minn.), Chloe Scholl (Fy., Alexandria, Minn.), Zoe Verhasselt (Fy., Hutchinson, Minn.), and Claire Woods (Fy., Sioux Falls, S.D.).
Gustavus women's basketball is back in action on December 3rd, when they travel to St. Paul to open the MIAC season with a matchup against Hamline.
