INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Gustavus women’s basketball team started its 2021-22 season with an 85-61 non-conference loss at Simpson College on Friday night. Gustavus was limited to 38.5 percent shooting from the field, while Simpson converted at 48.6 percent.
The first quarter had three lead changes in the first five minutes with the Gusties going ahead 10-9 on a layup by Rachel Kawiecki (Fy., Richfield) at the 4:27 mark, but Simpson responded with a 11-2 run over the next two minutes and never looked back. The Storm led 27-18 after the first quarter.
The Gusties got the lead down to seven with the first bucket of the second quarter, but once again the Storm answered with 22-8 run and led 53-34 at halftime.
Gustavus put up a fight in the third quarter, turning a 23-point deficit into 10 points, making 5-of-8 shots from the field during that span to making the score 62-52 with a minute left in the quarter. The Storm led 65-52 heading to the fourth and were able to get back to a 20-point advantage and held on for the win.
The Gusties had trouble from beyond the arc, making just 2-of-18 three-pointers.
Emma Kniefel (So., Medford) led the Gusties with a career-high 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field. She also hauled in five rebounds and had three assists. Maddy Rice (Jr., Forest Lake) was next on the stat sheet with seven points, three rebounds, and three steals.
Simpson outscored the Gusties 46-30 in the paint and had 16 fastbreak points.
Gustavus next hosts Luther at 7 p.m. Wednesday for its home opener.