NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The No. 16-ranked Gustavus women’s basketball team was led by Kelsey Carpenter’s (Sr., St. Peter, Minn.) career-high 31-point performance and record-tying eight three-point field goals to earn an 81-47 win at St. Olaf College Wednesday evening, improving its record to 21-1 overall and 14-1 MIAC.
In the first 20 minutes, Gustavus shot 12-for-27 from the field with Carpenter leading the way as she went 4-for-4 from the field and compiled 10 points. The Gusties began an 11-0 run to begin the second quarter before the Oles started to battle back, but Gustavus would own the lead heading into the break, 34-22.
Carpenter didn’t look back in the second half, as she went on to almost double her previous career-high point total with 31 points, shooting 11-for-13 from the field and tying a program record with eight three-point field goals as she was 8-for-10 from beyond the arc. The eight three-point field goals ties Melissa Young’s record set in 1992. The 31 points also stands tied for fourth most in a single game along with her field goal percentage of .846. Carpenter also led Gustavus on the glass, recording seven rebounds to tie a career-high.
“She got wide open looks and she just drained them,” said Head Coach Laurie Kelly on Carpenter’s career night. “It was great to see Kelsey get hot. We kept trying to get her the ball because she was on.”
The Gusties saw good point production from its bench as they outscored the Oles in bench points, 46-8. Nine Gusties found their way into the scoring column with Carpenter, Mikayla Miller (Jr., Goodhue, Minn.), and Miranda Rice (Jr., Forest Lake, Minn.) each posting double-digit point performances. Miller and Rice both tallied 10 points.
Another record-setting performance came from Miller as she picked up two steals to pass Jess Vadnais (2004-08) on the program’s all-time steals list. Miller is now No. 1 with 224 career steals in her third season as a Gustie.
Gustavus began the second half on a 15-7 run to extend its lead to 20 points around the midway point of the third quarter and carried its momentum throughout the second half. The Gusties shot 18-for-31 in the final 20 minutes, outscoring St. Olaf 47-25 in the second half to seal the 34-point victory.
“We had a really good run in the first half and kind of pulled away, but that was the only part of the first half that I thought we played well,” Kelly commented. “We struggled to move the ball against the zone. We are such a tempo team that it took us out of our tempo a little bit. When we got our defense going, that’s when our offense got going. I thought we played a much better second half. Anytime you win on the road in the league you feel fortunate. I think we need to tighten up and be a little cleaner heading into Saturday’s game.”
The Black and Gold continue its road stretch Saturday afternoon, heading to St. Joseph, Minn. to take on the College of Saint Benedict. The Gusties previously defeated the Blazers by a score of 71-50 in January at Gus Young Court. Tip off is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start at Claire Lynch Hall.