The Gustavus women’s basketball team defeated Concordia College 71-67 on Saturday afternoon. The Gusties improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC while extending their home winning streak to 22 games. Concordia falls to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in the conference. Sophomore post Bri Monahan led all players with 22 points, adding six rebounds and five steals. Senior guard Mandy Pearson paced the Cobbers with 17 points.
In addition to Monahan, the Gusties had three other players score in double figures, including junior guard Sara Boldt and senior wing Lacy Skoog with 13 points a piece. Senior post Kristin Kachelmyer added 11 points and a game high eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Anne Keeley and first year post Melanie Hageman contributed 12 points each for Concordia.
Perimeter shooting proved to be the difference in the game, an area that the Gusties have suffered in so far this year. Both teams shot over 45% in the game and over 60 % from the free throw line, but Gustavus’ 61.1% shooting from behind the arc, as compared to 28.6% for Concordia, gave the Gusties the edge.
Both teams played fairly evenly throughout the first half, playing through eight lead changes with no team leading by more than five points. Down by one with two minutes left in the half, Lacy Skoog drained a three-pointer to give the Gusties a 29-27 advantage. After Concordia tied the game at 29, Kristin Kachelmyer hit a layup and drew a foul with less than a minute remaining to put Gustavus up by three, then sank a ten-foot jumper on the next possession. Melanie Hageman scored for the Cobbers as time expired to bring them within three going into the locker room.
Concordia came out strong after halftime, coming from behind to build an eight point lead with 10:12 remaining in the game. The next four minutes, however, proved to be the turning point in the game as Gustavus sank five three-point shots including two each from Lacy Skoog and Bri Monahan and played stingy defense to build an eight point lead of their own. The Cobbers came back to lead by one with three minutes remaining, but the shooting accuracy of the Gusties put them ahead for good and gave them a 71-67 victory.
The Gusties will travel to St. Kate’s on Monday before facing St. Thomas at home on Wednesday. Tip-off for both games is scheduled for 7:30 pm.