Led by junior post player Bri Monahan (Hutchinson, Minn.), who picked up game-highs in points (27) and rebounds (11), the Gustavus women’s basketball team defeated College of St. Scholastica 73-60 in the third place game of the UW-Eau Claire Thanksgiving Showcase.
Leading 12-11 in the first half, Gustavus used a 16-6 run to take it’s largest lead of the first half. The Gusties would extend their lead to 43-31 early in the 2nd half before the Saints would cut it to 53-46 with 10:20 remaining. St. Scholastica would not get any closer the rest of the way.
Gustavus controlled the tempo of the game virtually from start to finish and held a sizeable advantage in point in the paint (40-28). Most of that damage was done by Monahan, who finished the game 10-of-15 from the field en route to her first double-double of the season. She also hit on all seven attempts from the charity stripe.
As a team, the Gusties outshot the Saints from the field, 46.7 percent to 39.4 percent. Guards Jess Vadnais (So., Hudson, Wis.) and Sara Boldt (Sr., Faribault, Minn.) chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Vadnais nearly missed scoring a double-double herself with nine rebounds. She also added five assists and four steals. Forward Vicky Peterson (So., Plymouth, Minn.) and guard Michelle Linbo (Sr., Rochester, Minn.) gave Gustavus some depth off the bench. Peterson dumped in seven points, while also collecting four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 25 minutes of play. Linbo made 2-of-3 shots from the field and finished with six points, two assists and a steal.
The Saints were led by Jen Kne and Sarah Klocke, who combined for 46 of St. Scholastica’s 60 points. Kne finished 10-of-16 from the field for 24 points and seven rebounds, while Klocke was 10-of-17 from the field for 22 points, five rebounds, four steals and a block.
Gustavus improves to 2-1 on the season while the Saints fall to 1-3. The Gusties will open MIAC play with home games against Hamline on Wednesday and Concordia on Saturday.
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