SAINT PETER, Minn. – Gustavus fifth-year guard
Emma Kniefel (Medford, Minn.) was named to the D3hoops.com All-Region IX First Team on Tuesday, March 18.
A four-time All-MIAC selection, Kniefel led the Gusties to their greatest season in program history, finishing 29-2 and 17-1 in the MIAC, claiming the program's third consecutive MIAC regular-season championship, fourth playoff title, and fourth consecutive national tournament appearance. Kniefel led an offense that averaged 66.5 points per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the floor.
Kniefel's final season was the best of her career, averaging 15.3 points while shooting 51.9 percent from the field. Starting and playing in all of the Gusties' games, Kniefel was a consistent offensive force all season, performing as the MIAC's most productive and efficient player. Kniefel shot 38.8 percent from three-point range and 81.4 percent from the line, hauling in an average of 4.5 rebounds per game alongside 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals. She scored in double digits 26 times this season, including nine games of 20 points or more, three of which came in national tournament games. The Medford native was twice named to the D3hoops.com National Team of the Week, and earned a pair of MIAC Offensive Player of the Week selections as well. She became the first player in conference history to earn three MIAC All-Playoff honors.
She finished 30th among all NCAA Division III players in field goal percentage (51.9 percent) and 32nd in field goals made (190). In NCAA tournament games, Kniefel ranked third in both field goals made (26) and free throws made (14), fourth in points (68), sixth in field goal attempts (52) and free throw attempts (15), and 10th in assists (12) and minutes per game (39.93).
The graduating Gustie class made significant appearances in the Gustavus women's basketball program record books, highlighted this season by Kniefel, who claimed the program's record for most games played in a Gustie uniform on Feb. 15, playing in her 114th against Saint Benedict. She played in eight more games to further establish her spot at the top of the record book (122). She additionally moved into the top three of all Gustie scorers, passing Bri Monahan '07 HOF '24 by one point with 1,467 in her career. Her 563 career field goals rank fourth in program history, her 299 assists eighth, 105 three-pointers and 194 steals tenth, and 236 free throws 12th.
Kniefel's six made three-pointers at UW-Eau Claire on Nov. 10 this season were the third most by a player in a single game in program history. Her 475 points this season were the sixth most in a single year, while her 190 field goals made rank second overall. Kniefel was 55.3 percent (121-for-219) from the floor, a mark that ranks 12th in the record books.
This is Kniefel's second D3hoops.com All-Region selection, as she was named to the Third Team last season. She was the only MIAC player on the first team, while Macalester's Peyton Starks (second), Bethel's Elly Schmitz (second), and Concordia's Makayla Anderson (third) also received the honor. UW-Whitewater's Kacie Carollo was named the Regional Player of the Year, while UW-Oshkosh head coach Brad Fischer was named the Regional Coach of the Year. Cornell (Iowa) forward Erin Knowles and Oshkosh's Paige Seckar were selected as Region IX Co-Rookies of the Year
Gustavus enjoyed its best season in program history with a 29-2 record, its fourth consecutive 20-win season, and the most wins in a single year in the program's 56 seasons. The Gusties won their fifth MIAC regular-season championship and third consecutive, and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament with a 66-53 win over Bethel March 1 for the program's fourth and fourth consecutive MIAC Playoff Championship. The national postseason appearance was Gustavus' 11th and fourth consecutive. The Gusties hosted an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history, and made its deepest run in the tournament, finishing in the NCAA Elite Eight.
