The Gustavus women’s basketball team used a 19-4 run over the final 11 minutes of the first half to break open a tight game and then cruised to a convincing 75-40 win over Saint Mary’s in St. Peter on Monday night. First year guard Molly Geske led a balanced Gustie scoring attack with 12 points. Coach Mickey Haller’s team improves to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the MIAC.
The Cardinals got off to a solid start in the game and led 7-4 five minutes into the first half. The two teams battled back and forth over the next six minutes and the Gusties led 13-11 with 11:30 on the clock. A three-point basket by Gustavus sophomore Kristen Prunty ignited a 9-0 Gustie run that pushed the lead to 11 points at 22-11 with 8:35 left to play. Saint Mary’s halted the run with a layup by Nicole Dehn, however the Gusties would outscore the Cardinals 13-4 the final eight minutes of the half and take an 18-point, 35-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Gustavus continued its inspired play in the second half outscoring Saint Mary’s 26-8 in the first 10 minutes of the half and extending its lead 33 points at 61-28. The Cardinals would get no closer than 30 points the rest of the game as the Gusties cruised to a convincing 35-point victory, 75-40.
Three Gustavus players scored in double-figures including Geske with 12, and Bri Radtke and Molly Mathiowetz contributing 10 points each. Twelve different players scored for the Gusties as the team made an impressive 52.6 percent of its shots from the field (30-57).
Saint Mary’s, which shot 18-of-49 from the field (36.7 percent), was led by Jess Miller with 14 points.
The Gusties claimed their seventh consecutive win over the Cardinals and stayed unbeaten on the season at 5-0.
Gustavus will travel to Minneapolis on Wednesday to face Augsburg. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm.