NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s basketball team on Wednesday beat St. Olaf 56-46 to complete the series sweep. The Gusties improve to 12-3 overall and 10-2 in the MIAC, while the Oles drop to 6-11 overall and 5-9 in the league.
Emma Kniefel (So., Medford) scored the first bucket 17 seconds into the game and the Gusties led wire-to-wire. Gustavus outscored the Oles 11-2 in the opening five minutes before the home team charged back with a 10-2 run, making the score 15-12 Gustavus at the end of the first quarter.
The difference in the game was the second quarter as the Gusties outscored the Oles 17-4, highlighted by Anna Sanders (Jr., Vadnais Heights) going 5-for-8 from three-point range. The Gusties led 32-16 at the half.
“Anna was key for us in the first half,” Head Coach Laurie Kelly said. “Their zone defense sagged in the middle which allowed us to take some perimeter shots and Anna took advantage.”
The lopsided second quarter proved to be crucial for the Gusties in the outcome of the game as St. Olaf slowly chipped away at the lead in the second half, but the Gusties were able to hold off the Oles comeback attempt.
“After a great second quarter, we never put ourselves in a position to pull away which was a little disappointing,” Kelly said. “We didn’t shoot the ball all that well and there were some 50-50 balls that needed to go our way but credit Olaf because they battled the whole time. We did enough to keep the lead and walk out of there with a win.”
The Gusties shot 34 percent from the floor, including 36.4 percent from beyond the arc as Sanders led the offense with 17 points. Kniefel also reached double figures with 11 points. Rachel Kawiecki (Fy., Richfield) led the team on the blocks with 10 rebounds. The Oles won the rebound battle 37-32 and shot 34.7 percent.
Gustavus next travels to Macalester on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip off.