Gustavus at St. Olaf
Date: Wednesday, February 8
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Northfield, Minn. | Bob Gelle Court
Live Coverage: Stats/Video
ST. PETER, Minn. – The No. 16-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College women’s basketball team starts a three-game road stretch Wednesday evening, heading to Northfield, Minn. to take on St. Olaf College. The 20-1 (13-1 MIAC) Gusties are set to tip off against the 7-14 (3-11 MIAC) Oles at 7 p.m.
GUSTAVUS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PAGE | ST. OLAF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PAGE
Last time out: Gustavus most recently bounced back on Saturday from its first loss of the season prior that week, winning big against Hamline University 106-63 for Head Coach Laurie Kelly’s 300th career win.
In the polls: The Gusties moved up in the most recent Division III National rankings. In the D3hoops.com poll, Gustavus moved up from No. 17 to No. 16, while remaining at No. 21 in the WBCA Coaches Poll.
Among the National Leaders: Out of 440 teams in NCAA Division III women’s basketball, Gustavus sits near the top in multiple statistical rankings. The 46.6 field goal percentage ranks second, the 8.1 free throw percentage ranks fourth, and the 95.0 winning percentage is tied for eighth best.
The Series: Wednesday’s contest marks the 75th all-time meeting between Gustavus and St. Olaf with the Gusties holding a 50-24 record over the Oles. The Gusties previously defeated the Oles by a score of 79-61 on Dec. 7 at Gus Young Court.
Scouting the Oles: St. Olaf most recently pulled out a three-point victory at Saint Mary’s University on Saturday, snapping a five-game losing streak and improving its record to 7-14 overall and 3-11 in MIAC play. Sophomore forward Makenna Ash leads the Oles in scoring, averaging 13.5 points perg game, while senior forward Betsey Daly is the MIAC rebounding leader with an average of 10.2 per game.
Gustavus notables:
– In her 19th season as a head coach, her fifth at Gustavus, Laurie Kelly led Gustavus to victory over Hamline on Saturday to collect her 300th career victory.
– Hannah Howard (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.) notched her second-straight doubledouble against Hamline.
– Tierney Winter (Fy., Waterville, Minn.) and Kate Thiesse (Jr., Welcome, Minn.) both recorded career-highs vs. Hamline. Winter tallied a career-best eight-point performance while Thiesse posted five points.
– Mikayla Miller (Jr., Goodhue, Minn.) continues to lead the Gusties, averaging 17.7 points per game – which ranks second highest in the MIAC.
– Miller is just two steals away from breaking the program all-time steals record. Sitting with 222 career steals, she sits one behind Jess Vadnais’ (2004-08) record of 223.
– Miranda Rice (Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.) ranks third behind Miller in the MIAC, averaging 17.2 points per game. Rice also ranks second in the MIAC with a 60.0 field goal percentage. Rice was selected as the Gustavus January Female Student-Athlete of the Month after posting an average of 19 points through eight games in the month.
– Gustavus ranks first in the MIAC in points per game (76.3), field goal percentage (46.6), free throw percentage (78.1), assists per game (18.0), and steals per game (12.5).