CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – In a back and forth affair Saturday, the Gustavus women’s basketball team lost 59-57 at Coe College. The Gusties erased a 13-point third quarter deficit and traded the lead with Coe six times in the fourth quarter, but the Kohawks were able to come out on top in the end.
Gustavus claimed a 14-11 lead with 3:53 remaining in the first quarter and neither team was able to score for the next five minutes. The Kohawks followed with an 8-2 run over the next three minutes before the Gusties outscored the home squad 11-9 to finish the half, taking a 30-28 advantage into the locker room.
Coe took control of the game in the third quarter, holding the Gusties scoreless for the first 5:25 of the second half while adding 15 points to its score. Gustavus found a rhythm though, making five of its next six shots while limiting the Kohawks to one free throw during that time, resulting in a 44-42 Coe lead with 1:44 left in the third quarter.
The Gusties took their first lead since the start of the half at 48-47 with 7:58 remaining in the game, and what followed were five more lead changes and a couple ties. Gustavus took a 57-56 lead on a pair of free throws by Paige Richert (So., Comfrey, Minn.) with 0:52 left in the game, but that would be the last points for the visitors as Coe scored the final three points to regain the lead and the last second Gustavus three-pointer was no good.
The Gusties forced 25 turnovers, 14 via the steal, but shot a pedestrian 35.5 percent from the field as the Kohawks shot 47.7 percent, which proved to be a factor. The Kohawks also out-rebounded the Gusties 42-25.
Justine Lee (Sr., Dawson, Minn.) led the Gusties with 14 points, six rebounds, and five steals. Kendall Thompson (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Richert added 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Gustavus (6-5) next hosts St. Thomas at 7 p.m. Wednesday.