Mikayla Miller
HOLLAND, Mich. – The Gustavus women’s basketball team had its hot start hampered by the No. 3-ranked Thomas More College Friday at Hope College in a NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen matchup, as the Saints held on to defeat the Golden Gusties 75-67.
The program’s historic season ends with a 24-7 overall record.
Gustavus got off to a strong start, opening the game with four consecutive made field goals and claiming a 21-17 lead after the first quarter. The Gusties shot 50 percent from the field and from beyond the arc through the first 10 minutes.
The Saints answered in the second quarter by limiting the Black and Gold to just eight points. The second quarter began with a 7-0 run by Thomas More, and the Gusties entered the intermission trailing 32-29. Gustavus out-rebounded Thomas More 18-11 in the first half, while both teams shot 41 percent from the field.
A Miranda Rice (Sr., Forest Lake, Minn.) jumper completed a 5-2 Gustie run to open the third quarter, tying the game at 34-34. However, Thomas More countered with a 23-10 run to gain a 57-44 advantage heading into the final frame.
Despite outscoring the Saints 23-18 in the fourth quarter, Thomas More was able to maintain its lead throughout the final 10 minutes. With five minutes to play, a Mikayla Miller (Sr., Goodhue, Minn.) layup cut the deficit to 61-59, but that would be the closest the Gusties would get during their comeback effort.
Gustavus shot 43.1 percent from the field (25-58) and 35 percent (7-20) from long-range, while the Saints owned a 46.0 field goal percentage (23-50) along with a 4-10 mark from three-point range.
Senior leaders Miller and Rice paced the Gusties during their final games in Black and Gold. Miller tallied 20 points off 7-16 shooting, while Rice followed with 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds.