The Gustavus women’s basketball team improved to 12-2 overall and 9-2 in the MIAC with an impressive 68-48 victory over Carleton on Wednesday night in St. Peter. Jess Vadnais (Hudson, Wis.) led the Gusties with 19 points, while Bri Monahan (Hutchinson, Minn.) recorded her first double-double of the season by scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
The Gusties fell behind early as Carleton jumped out to a 10-7 lead eight minutes into the game. Gustavus countered with a 23-4 run the final 11 minutes of the half and took a 30-14 lead into the locker room. The Gustie defense stifled the Knights in the first half recording 10 steals and forcing thirteen turnovers, and limiting Carleton to 30.4 percent shooting from the field (7-23).
Monahan led the Gusties in the first half as she neared a double-double as she notched nine points and seven rebounds while adding three of Gustavus’ 10 first-half steals.
Gustavus opened the second half on 12-5 run, building its lead to 25 points at 44-19 with 15:20 left in the game. The Gusties would build their lead to as many as 28 points before Carleton rallied late to close the gap to 20 in the final minute. Amber Connor led Carleton with 17 second-half points.
Joining Vadnais (19) and Monahan (15) in double figures for Gustavus was Erin Boese (Rochester, Minn./Mayo) with 10. Connor led the Knights with 21 points on the night, followed by teammate Hannah Oken-Berg’s 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
Gustavus shot 39.7 percent from the floor (27-68) while Carleton shot 43.8 percent from the field (21-48). The Gusties were a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line, while the Knights made just 5-of-14 attempts. Gustavus turned 27 Carleton turnovers into 36 points which proved to be a determining factor in the game.
With the win, the Gusties move into sole possession of second place at the half-way point of the MIAC season with a record of 9-2. Carleton, meanwhile, falls into a third place tie with Concordia at 8-3.
The Gusties next action will take place at Macalester as they hit the road for an MIAC battle on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm in St. Paul.