CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Gustavus women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday, falling to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 41-37. With the loss the Gusties fall to 4-1 while the Athenas move to 5-0.
After Ava Gonsorowski (Jr., Esko) opened the game with a three, the game slowed down with neither team gaining an advantage early. Gustavus was able to open up a 10-5 lead with 3:31 remaining in the first quarter, before an Athena three pointer and free throw pulled them within one as the teams went to the second quarter with the Gusties leading 10-9.
The Gusties played their best quarter in the second frame, scoring nine of the first 10 points of the quarter to go up 19-10. CMS would get four straight points before Gonsorowski scored with time winding down to put Gustavus up 21-14 headed into the break.
After the Gusties scored four of the first six points in the third quarter, the Athenas would take momentum of the game. CMS closed out the third quarter on a 17-2 run and took a 33-27 lead into the final quarter.
In the final frame, a Caitlin Rorman (Fy., Blue Earth) three pointer with 7:29 remaining would pull the Black and Gold within a possession at 35-32 but the Athenas would stretch their lead back to two possessions, eventually taking a 39-33 lead with 3:39 remaining. Gonsorowski would make a pair of free throws, followed by a Gabby Bowlin (Jr., Winona) basket to trim the deficit to two, but Gustavus was unable to find the bottom of the net the final 2:39 of play as CMS took the victory.
Gonsorowski led all scorers with 18 points to go along with six rebounds and six steals. Rorman posted eight points, eight rebounds, and four steals, while Paige Richert (Jr., Comfrey) added seven points. The Gusties struggled offensively in the contest, shooting 13-of-46 (28.3 percent), while also committing 29 turnovers.
The Gusties will next be in action on Wednesday when they travel to Hamline for a 7 p.m. contest.