NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The No. 8 Gustavus women's basketball team put on a defensive clinic at St. Olaf, defeating the Oles 66-36 on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
The Gusties (21-1, 14-1 MIAC) stifled any St. Olaf offense, forcing 29 turnovers, and limiting the Oles to less than four shots made in each quarter. Gustavus grabbed 38 boards, as well, nearly half of which came on the offensive end of the court.
The Gustie defense set the tone from tip, holding the Oles (7-15, 1-14 MIAC) without a shot attempt for the first three minutes of the game, and starting with a 7-0 run on the other end of the floor for the early advantage. Despite shooting 75 percent in quarter one, St. Olaf was held to just four shot attempts, and struggled to slow down the efforts of
Rachel Kawiecki (Sr., Richfield, Minn.), who shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor and the line for nine points off the bench. Kawiecki and the Gusties forced 12 Ole turnovers for a commanding 21-8 advantage at the close of the first quarter.
Gustavus shot just 26.7 percent (4-for-15) in the second, but held the Oles to just one made shot on 10 attempts, collecting an additional six turnovers, four of which came off steals. Kawiecki passed the baton to
Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.), who scored seven second quarter points for a 33-13 Gustie lead at the half.
The home team put on its best performance of the game after the break, scoring 12 to the Gusties' 17, but continued to struggle with possession, conceding eight more turnovers, two of which resulted in steals for
Syd Hauger (5th, Springfield, Minn.). Seven of the Oles' 11 fourth quarter points came from the free throw line, but the Gustie's dominated down low, scoring 10 in the paint to close things out for a 66-36 final.
Head Coach
Laurie Kelly was able to work eight players off the bench into the lineup, five of which contributed to the team's scoring. The Gusties finished shooting 38.1 percent (24-for-63) from the field, one of their lowest marks of the year, but held the Oles to a clip of just 28.6 percent (10-for-35), marking the sixth time this season an opponent has shot below 30 percent. Gustavus bested St. Olaf in every statistical category, winning the battle of the boards 38-31, scoring 38 off turnovers to the Oles' 15, and tacking 19 bench points to just nine for the Ole non-starters.
The top three Gustie scorers eclipsed St. Olaf's point total as a team, as Kniefel (16), Hauger (13), and Kawiecki (11) combined for 40 points, collectively shooting 48.3 percent. Hauger and Kawiecki each grabbed six rebounds to lead the team, three offensive and three defensive for both, while Hauger added five steals to her stat line.
Kylie Baranick (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) and
Morgan Kelly (Sr., Saint Peter, Minn.) each dished out four assists, while Kelly posted a game-high three blocks.
The Gusties return home Saturday, Feb. 15, hosting Saint Benedict (14-7, 9-5 MIAC) at Gus Young Court.
