SAINT PAUL, Minn. – For the second time this season, the Gustavus women’s basketball team held its opponent under 40 points in a decisive 56-38 win at Hamline on Thursday night. The Gusties held the Pipers to 31 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers to improve to 11-9 overall and 8-5 in the MIAC.
“We were on point defensively,” Head Coach Laurie Kelly said. “It shows that when your offense is struggling that the defense can pick it up and tonight was a great team effort all around. I felt that was our best defensive performance this season.”
Hamlime was limited to just seven points in the first quarter and 18 in the first half as the Gusties took a nine-point lead into halftime. The Gustie defense continued to shine in the second half, holding the Pipers to 20 points in as many minutes.
Gustavus shot 22-for-61 (36.1 percent) from the field and went 8-for-11 from the free-throw line. The Pipers slightly won the rebounding battle 36-34, but the Gusties outscored the home team 34-18 in the paint.
Alison Hinck (So., White Bear Lake, Minn.) posted a career-high 13 points off the bench, shooting 4-for-6, including three from beyond the arc late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to increase the lead from six to 15. Ava Gonsorowski (So., Esko, Minn.) chipped in 11 points and Maddie Wagner (So., New Richland, Minn.) hauled in a team-high seven rebounds.
The Gusties return home Saturday for a 1 p.m. matchup against Carleton.