SAINT PETER, Minn - It was a lively Saturday for the Gustavus women's basketball as it was alumni day with several former Gusties returning to enjoy a wonderful Valentine's Day in St. Peter. The Gusties won with a stellar day from beyond the arc to defeat St. Kate's, 87-55. Gustavus out performed the Wildcats in nearly all stats while the Gusties bench proved to be a factor outsourcing the Wildcats 32-9.
It was a similar start to the game for the Gusties as it was last weekend against Macalester as they didn't score for the first two and a half minutes, but junior
Kaitlyn Schaefer (Eagan, Minn.) made a three, stopping the Wildcats 5-0 run. St. Kates didn't slow down though, as they took a 16-7 lead after three consecutive three pointers. The run was cut down as sophomore
Anna Goodman (Lakeville, Minn.) drilled a three to make it 16-10. Each team traded baskets to end the very physical first quarter where the Gusties found themselves down 22-14. The Gusties shot 5-for-13 (38 percent) from the field and 2-for-8 (25 percent) from three point range. Where as St. Kate/s shot 9-19 (47 percent) and 4-7 (57 percent) from downtown which helped them take their early lead
Each team traded threes on their first possessions in the second quarter, with Schaefer making her second of the day followed by a pair of Goodman free throws making it 25-19. Junior
Ella Peters (River Falls Wis.) splashed a three to stop their own drought to make it 27-22. Right out of a St. Kate's timeout, a pair of threes from Peters and Goodman gave the Gusties their first lead of the game at 30-29. It was back and forth for the rest of the quarter with five total lead changes and after a St. Kate's turnover with twenty five seconds left, Goodman buried her third three of the game to give the Gusties the lead going into the locker room with a score of 35-33. The Gusties shot more efficiently in the second at 6-for-13 (46 percent) from the field and 5-for-7 (71 percent) from beyond the arc. Goodman led the team with 11 followed closely by Peters with eight and Schaefer with seven.
It seemed like
Anna Goodman and the Gusties wouldn't cool down as she started how she left off, with her fourth and fifth three of the game on back-to-back possessions, but the Wildcats had enough and went on their own 6-0 run to fizzle out the momentum making it 41-39 Gustavus. After a timeout and hustle play from Goodman, the energy was ecstatic in the gym, as the Gusties went on a 10-3 run highlighted by four points from Junior
Kendyl Queensland (Grand Meadow, Minn.) and a pair of layups from sophomore
Bella DeHaan (Lakeville, Minn.), making it 51-42 Gusties with three minutes remaining. The Gusties chemistry continued as their next four baskets were all assisted and highlighted by a pair of threes from junior
Peyton Stevermer (Mankato, Minn.) and Goodman, while sophomore
Olivia Grothaus (Hudson, Wis.) made instant impact off the bench with a pair of layups including an and-one, giving the Gusties a 64-48 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Gusties added to their lead a few minutes in with junior
Whitley Ronn (Lakeville, Minn.) drilling a mid-range to make it 66-48. Around the four minute mark head coach
Laurie Kelly was afforded the opportunity to give more experience to players who have not seen the floor as much this season with every single Gustie rostered getting an opportunity to play. This resulted in eight points from the bench from first-years
Chloe Scholl (Alexandria, Minn.),
Addy Kath (Glenwood, Minn.) and
Miranda Palmby (Dover, Minn.) along with junior
Ava Westerman (Pewaukee, Wis.), resulting in a final score 87-55 in favor of the Gusties.
The Gusties shot 31-for-61 (51 percent) from the field as they also outrebounded the Wildcats 35-32 while benefiting from 24 points scored off of 15 Wildcat turnovers. The magic came from beyond the arc as the Gusties shot 11-for-25 (44 percent) from deep which was led by a 6-for-8 (75 percent) day from Goodman who led the team in points with 22,
Gustavus women's basketball (16-7, 12-4 MIAC) makes the trek up to Duluth for a tilt vs St. Scholastica (16-7, 11-5 MIAC) at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
