SAINT PETER, Minn. - After the slowest first half of the season, the Gusties were able to mount an 11 point comeback to beat Saint Benedict, 60-54, widening the gap in the MIAC standings. The Gusties used a 53 percent shooting fourth quarter to get over the hump, including 12 fourth quarter points by junior
Ella Peters (River Falls, Wis.).
Coming into the game, Gustavus (12-7, 8-4 MIAC), held a one game lead over Saint Benedict (12-7, 7-5 MIAC) in the MIAC standings with six games to go, meaning the game tonight on Gus Young Court would either deadlock the teams' MIAC records or push the Gusties' lead to two games. The home-court advantage on National Girls and Women in Sports Day and Youth Night proved to help the home team and give the team an extra push.
After an early 4-2 lead by the Gusties courtesy of junior
Kendyl Queensland (Grand Meadow, Minn.) and classmate
Kaitlyn Schaefer (Eagan, Minn.), Saint Benedict used a 9-1 run to establish an early lead, 11-5. In the span of 30 seconds, Gustavus climbed back in the game, with a driving layup and jumper cutting the lead down to 11-9 for the Bennies. Neither team could find the hoop for the last 2:15 of the quarter, sending the teams into the first break within two. Neither team was better than 25 percent through the quarter from the field and the Gusties could not find three points from beyond the arc, but used a 10-7 rebound margin to keep the game close.
The offensive drought would continue into the second quarter, with the Gusties not scoring until 3:34 into the quarter when sophomore
Anna Goodman (Lakeville, Minn.) hit the team's first from beyond the arc, closing the gap to 16-12. After trading buckets, the Bennies would go on another 7-0 run through the middle stretch of the quarter, pushing their lead to 11 with 50 seconds left before halftime. Goodman would make a driving layup to bring the deficit down to single digits, but the Gusties would trail at halftime, 25-16. Gustavus shot 3-for-10 (30 percent) from the field compared to a 4-for-17 (23.5 percent) performance, but were held without an offensive rebound and the rebound margin was back to even, 15-15, heading into the locker room.
After a 1-for-6 (16.7 percent) performance from long range in the first half, Gustavus elected to shoot only two in the third quarter, but went 1-for-2 on their way to closing the gap to two. The Gusties scored 18 points in the quarter, more than their whole first half performance, compared to the Bennies' 11, including a 11-8 rebounding margin and a 6-for-16 (37.5 percent) clip from the field. Saint Benedict got their lead back to 11 with 8:15 remaining in the quarter, but the Gusties used a 11-3 run through the next two minutes to cut into the lead and reignite Gus Young Court. This run included seven points from Peters, a three from classmate
Peyton Stevermer (Mankato, Minn.), and two free throws from Goodman. The scoring slowed after this run for both teams, as Gustavus held a small 5-4 run over the last 5:33 of game time in the quarter to bring the lead for Saint Benedict down to two.
The fourth quarter proved that this Gustie team has the grit to get it done, simply executing down the stretch and getting the job done. Peters continued to prove her level, scoring 12 points in the final frame alone. Gustavus came out of the huddle after the quarter and seemed shot out of a cannon, going on an 8-2 run to start the quarter and operating at 71 percent from the field at an early point in the frame to take the lead 43-38, their first lead since 4-2. Saint Benedict was able to slice into the lead with three points of their own, but the Gusties continued to push with a 6-0 run. Four of those points for Gustavus came from the free throw line, which has been an Achilles heel for the team all season, shooting a 68.3 percent clip before the game, ranking 184th in the NCAA and 11th in the MIAC. The Bennies got the lead down to four with 1:22 remaining, but Gustavus continued to show a major improvement from the charity stripe, making seven in the final 59 seconds to seal a key MIAC win.
After a slow first half, the Gusties were able to respond and score 44 points in the second half compared to Saint Benedict's 29. Peters led with 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Gusties and Goodman and Ronn both had three assists. Ronn led the defensive effort as well, blocking three shots in 32 minutes of action.
The home team shot 20-for-56 (35.7 percent) from the field when it was all said and done and went 17-for-20 from the free throw line. Gustavus forced 18 turnovers by the Bennies and were able to use those to score 15 points off turnovers to turn the tide. Saint Benedict led for 71.2 percent in a game that held four ties and two lead chances, but the Gusties were able to hold on when it mattered, never giving up the lead after the 8:11 mark of the fourth quarter.
Gustavus women's basketball now moves to 13-7 and 9-4 in the MIAC, taking a two game cushion in the playoff picture over Saint Benedict, who is now 12-8 and 7-6 in the MIAC. The Gusties next game is Saturday at 1:00 p.m., traveling up to St. Paul to take on Macalester (2-17, 1-12 MIAC).
