St. Paul – The Gustavus Adolphus women’s basketball team couldn’t keep up with St. Thomas’s high-powered offense in Wednesday night’s 90-56 loss at Schoenecker Arena. The Tommies shot over 60-percent from the field and forced 25 Gustavus turnovers to run away with the victory. Gustavus heads into its season-finale on Saturday at 13-11 overall and 10-11 in the MIAC, while St. Thomas improves to 20-4 overall and 18-3 in the MIAC.
With the scored tied at 8-8 with 15:51 left in the opening half, St. Thomas opened up a nine point lead after going on a 12-3 scoring-run. Gustavus didn’t go away quietly and battled back to come within three points (27-24) by the 7:55 mark. Three points was all the closer Gustavus would come, as St. Thomas closed the half on a 14-3 run.
The Tommies never looked back in the second half, continuing to add to their lead throughout the second half.
Gustavus finished the game 19-for-44 (43.2%) from the field, 1-for-7 (14.3%) from three-point range, and 16-for-26 (65.4%) at the line. St. Thomas was red-hot from the field throughout the night, going 35-for-58 (60.3%) from the floor, 9-for-15 from three (60%), and 11-for-12 (91.7%) at the line.
Both Lindsey Johnson (So., Edina, Minn.) and Karina Schroeder (So., Lake Crystal, Minn.) scored 17 points to pace the Gustavus offense. Johnson went 5-for-12 from the field, 1-for-2 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-7 at the line, while Schroeder went 6-for-8 from the field and 5-for-6 at the line.
St. Thomas out-rebounded Gustavus 36-20 and scored 35 points off Gustavus’s 25 turnovers.
Taylor Young was the game’s leading scorer with 16 points off 6-for-13 shooting from the floor. A total of five Tommies finished in double-figures.
The Gustavus women’s basketball team still seeks a playoff spot as it heads into the regular season finale on Saturday. The Gusties will to secure a playoff position when they travel to St. Paul to face St. Catherine at 3:00 p.m.