The Gustavus women’s basketball team completed its 2006-07 regular season with a 72-59 loss to Carleton in Northfield, Minn. The two teams battled evenly through the first half, however the Knights outscored the Gusties 14-7 over the final five minutes of the game to post the 13-point victory. Jess Vadnais led Gustavus with 28 points.
Carleton jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and later held a seven-point lead at 19-12 with 8:23 left in the half. The Gusties countered with an 8-0 run which game them a 20-19 lead with 5:48 on the clock. After Carleton scored to take a 21-20 lead, Gustavus scored seven straight to take a six-point lead at 27-21 with 3:49 left to play. The Knights outscored the Gusties 10-4 the rest of the half and the scored was tied 31-31 at the intermission.
The game would remain close for the first 15 minutes of the second half, however Carleton (which scored the first six points after the break) would never trail. Gustavus cut the lead to three at 50-47 on a jumper by Katie Layman with 8:51 left to play. The Knights would quickly push the lead to nine at 58-49 with 4:56 left on the clock. A jumper by Carleton’s Sarah Lincoln pushed the Knights lead to 11 at 63-52 at the 2:37 mark and the Gusties would get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
Unfortunately for Gustavus, St. Thomas upset St. Ben’s and had the Gusties been able to beat Carleton they would have tied for the conference championship. Instead, Gustavus falls to 21-4 overall and 18-4 in MIAC (all alone in second place).
The Gusties will now get a bye in the first round of the MIAC Playoffs on Tuesday, Feb. 20 and host a MIAC Playoff semifinal game on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 pm.