The Gustavus women’s basketball team moved to 2-0 on the young season with a 69-56 win over Southwestern University at Austin College in Sherman, Texas on Saturday afternoon. The Gusties jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back on their way to a 13-point victory. Three Gustavus players scored in double figures including Emily Nelson and Molly Mathiowetz with 12 points and Bri Radtke with 11. The Gusties will open MIAC play with a home game against Carleton on Wednesday at 7:30 pm.
The Gusties got off to a very strong start scoring the first 14 points of the game. Seven of the 14 points came off of layups from steals on the defensive end. Southwestern countered with eight straight points to cut the lead to six at 14-8, however the Gusties push the lead back to 11 at 21-10 and that is as close as the Pirates would get the rest of the game. Gustavus extended its lead to 29-12 and that 17-point lead would be the largest of the first half for the Gusties. At the break, Gustavus led by 15 points at 42-27.
Gustavus maintained its double-digit lead the entire second half extending its lead to as many as 19 points at 68-49 with 5:45 left in the game.
The Gusties shot a cool 36.1 percent from the field (22-61), but a red-hot 84.6 percent from the free throw line (22-26). Southwestern shot 40.8 percent from the field (20-49) and 82.4 percent from the free throw line (14-17). Gustavus recorded 16 steals in the game including a game high five steals from Emily Nelson.