SAINT PETER, Minn. - Sophomore
Anna Goodman (Lakeville, Minn.) joined elite company on Wednesday night as the fourth player since 2014 to reach 10 assists in a game as the Gusties defeated St. Olaf 79-53. Gustavus never trailed and led in multiple team categories to grab another MIAC win.
Fresh off of a win over No. 19 Bethel, the Gusties continued to surge forward to start the game, going on an early 10-0 run to open the contest, courtesy of four points by both
Ella Peters (Jr., River Falls, Wis.) and
Whitley Ronn (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.) and another layup by
Olivia Grothaus (So., Hudson, Wis.). Over the course of that run, Goodman provided all three assists. This early run proved to be the difference after the first frame, where the Gusties led 23-13 after St. Olaf found their footing. Gustavus used fast break layups multiple times to avoid the Oles being able to settle into their zone defense, shot 58.8 percent (10-for-17), and outrebounded the visitors 11-5 to establish a lead early.
After an early layup by St. Olaf, Goodman (Lakeville, Minn.) combined with juniors Ronn and
Kendyl Queensland (Grand Meadow, Minn.) to go on a 6-0 run over the course of a minute to enlarge the lead to 14, the largest of the game to that point. The next two minutes held a 5-2 run for the Oles, but a 9-2 run over the last 3:16 of the half brought the lead up to 18 into halftime. Goodman continued to dish out the rock effectively, assisting on seven baskets to five different teammates in the half. On the defensive end, the Gusties forced 10 turnovers and held the Oles to nine points in the second quarter, including a 1-for-6 clip from behind the arc.
The third quarter proved to be where both teams turned up the ante in terms of offensive production, with both teams scoring their most points in a quarter across the contest, Gustavus scoring 25 and St. Olaf scoring 21. The teams matched wits for the first 3:49 of the frame, but the difference came in a team performance for the Gusties rather than an individual spotlight. Over a 5:30 span, the Gusties shot 8-for-9 and 4-for-5 from three point land and dared St. Olaf to keep up, taking a lead as large as 23. A reverse layup at the buzzer by Peters raised the lead over 20 again for the home team, who took a 65-43 lead into the final section.
In the fourth quarter, Goodman added four points early to maintain a 20-point lead, followed by a Queensland three-pointer a minute later. With 3:18 left, Head Coach
Laurie Kelly emptied the bench, providing younger players with minutes to wrap up the game, highlighted by a three by first-year
Addy Kath (Glenwood, Minn.), the first points of her career in the Black and Gold. As a team, the Gusties wrapped up the game in style, outrebounding the Oles 8-4, including a 4-0 offensive glass performance and scored 14 points to St. Olaf's 10, finishing the game 79-53.
Gustavus shot an even 50.0 percent (32-for-64) from the floor on the night and only were aided by five points at the free throw line. The Gusties outrebounded the Oles 33-20, including a dominant offensive rebound margin of 11-3, leading to nine second chance points. The fast break was key for Gustavus as well, scoring 18 fast break points and used 26 points off turnovers and 44 points in the paint to help grab another MIAC win.
Goodman eclipsed 10 assists for the Gusties, the first 10-assist performance of the season for the Gusties and is tied with elite point guard company,
Kylie Baranick, Ava Gonsorowski, and Mikayla Miller, for the most assists in a game by any Gustavus women's basketball player since 2014.
The Gusties continue the MIAC season on Saturday, when they make the trip up to St. Paul to face St. Catherine, set for a 1:00 p.m. tipoff.
