SAINT PETER, Minn. – A pair of season-best performances from
Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.) and
Kylie Baranick (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) led No. 8 Gustavus women's basketball to a 73-62 win over Saint Benedict on Saturday, Feb. 15.
Both guards scored over 20 points, led by Kniefel's career-high 26, while Baranick went 5-for-6 from three-point land for a season-high 22. The Gusties (22-1, 15-1 MIAC) shot 51.8 percent (29-for-56) and hit six of 14 from distance (42.9 percent), four of which came in the first quarter.
After both teams missed their opening attempts,
Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.) hit a jumper for the first points of the game, followed by her next six of the opening quarter, scoring the Gusties' first eight points of the game.
Kylie Baranick (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) took over next, hitting three-consecutive from beyond the arc for a 17-6 opening run. Kniefel had 13 before the end of quarter one, giving the Gusties a 25-13 lead while shooting a perfect 6-for-6 to contribute to a 10-for-12 (83.3 percent) mark for the team.
The offense continued to roll in the second quarter, getting points from five different players and opening the second 10 with an 8-2 run. The Gusties shot 7-for-13 in the second quarter, and out-rebounded CSB (15-8, 10-6 MIAC) 11-4 for a 40-25 lead at the half, the most points the team has scored through two quarters against a conference opponent this season.
The Bennies out-scored the No. 8 Gusties 37-33 after halftime, finding their groove from the floor, including a 7-for-13 (53.8 percent) performance immediately following the break. Saint Benedict cut the deficit to four, 66-62, with 2:47 to play in the final frame, but the Gusties closed the game out with an uncontested seven points, five of which came from Kniefel, and the other two from Baranick.
The Gusties combined for 30 points in the paint to the Bennies' 22, forcing 10 turnovers that resulted in eight steals and nine points.
Kniefel finished 11-for-15 (73.3 percent) from the floor, not missing a shot until the final quarter, while Baranick went 7-for-8 (87.5 percent) with five of the Gusties' six made three-pointers.
Rachel Kawiecki (Sr., Richfield, Minn.) added 13 on 6-for-8 (75 percent) shooting, as well as six boards and six assists.
Morgan Kelly (Sr., Saint Peter, Minn.) led the rebounding efforts with a game-high eight, seven of which came on the defensive end of the court.
The Bennies' Sophia Jonas, who set the MIAC record for career three-pointers, was held to a clip of just 1-for-7 (14.3 percent) from beyond the arc by the Gustie defense.
The Gusties travel to Carleton (3-20, 2-14 MIAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 19, for their final road game of the regular season.
