The Gustavus women’s basketball team fell to 8-5 in MIAC with a 71-58 loss to Concordia in Moorhead on Saturday afternoon. The Cobbers jumped out to an early 10-point lead at 14-4 and never looked back as they earned a season split with the Gusties who had beaten them 71-60 in December in St. Peter. Gustavus was led in scoring by Molly Geske with 14 points.
Concordia started the game aggressively hitting two three-point baskets in the first :90 seconds of play and building a 10-point lead at 14-4 at the 15:45 mark. Gustavus battled back and cut the lead to four at 16-12 with 12:29 left in the half. Concordia maintained a 6-to-9 point lead the rest of the half, but the Cobbers extended their lead to 11 points at 35-24 at the 1:12 mark. Gustavus first year standout Molly Geske rallied the Gusties with five consecutive points in the final minute, including a three-point basket with :02 left. Concordia led 35-29 at halftime.
The Cobbers used an 8-2 run in the first three minutes of the second half to extend their lead to 12 points at 43-31 at the 17:07 mark. Concordia maintained double-digit lead for the next six minutes until Gustavus used a 9-2 run to cut the Cobber lead to six points at 54-48 with 9:12 left to play. That is as close as the Gusties would get as Concordia countered with a 9-2 run of its own to build its lead back to 13 points. Gustavus would get no closer than 11 points in the final seven minutes of the game.
With the loss, Gustavus falls to 10-6 overall and 8-5 in the MIAC, while the Cobbers improve to 12-4 overall and 11-2 in the MIAC.
The Gusties will play St. Mary’s in Winona on Wednesday, while Concordia will travel to Northfield to face Carleton.