The Gustavus women’s basketball team improved to 5-0 on the season with an impressive 66-38 win over Augsburg in St. Peter on Saturday afternoon. Bri Monahan led the Gusties in scoring with 13 points. Others in double figures included Jess Vadnais with 12 and Lindsey Kolden with 11.
The Gusties jumped out to a 16-6 lead in the first half and never looked back on their way to a 28-point win over Augsburg. Vadnais and Monahan led the early charge for Gustavus scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively in the first half. The Gusties led 34-13 at the intermission. The Auggies could not find the range in the first half as they made only 5-of-26 shots from the field (19.2 percent). Gustavus was not exactly red hot from the field making 11-of-36 shots (30.6 percent), however the Gusties made 11-of-13 free throws.
Gustavus continued to build its lead in the second half outscoring the Auggies 14-0 over the first eight minutes of play to take a 48-13 lead. Gustie junior Lindsey Kolden took advantage of some extra playing time to score a career high 11 points. Kolden was 4-of-4 from the field including 2-of-2 from three-point range. Augsburg rallied to cut the lead to 23 points (60-37) on a layup by Melissa Lindback with 1:24 left in the game, however the Gusties would score six of the final seven points making the final score 66-38.
Gustavus head coach Mickey Haller recorded the 118th win of her career which moves her into a first place tie for coaching victories at Gustavus. Haller will become the winningest coach in the program’s history with her next win. Haller is 118-45 during her seven years at Gustavus.