The Gustavus women’s basketball team shot over 50 percent from the field on its way to a 73-52 victory over Macalester on Wednesday night in St. Peter, Minn. Molly Geske led the way with 20 points, going 9-15 from the field and 2-3 from three point range. The Gusties scored 27 points off of 24 Scot turnovers in the game.
Gustavus improves to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the MIAC, while Macalester falls to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in the MIAC.
“It was a good team effort tonight. I thought we played a complete game,” said Head Coach Mickey Haller.
A three pointer by Steph Comer at the 9:25 mark put Gustavus up 17-7 in the opening half. The Scots would cut the lead to six points five minutes later, yet Gustavus responded with an 8-0 run, extending the lead to 31-17 with 3:06 left in the half. Ava Perry scored five points on a three pointer and a layup within the run. Gustavus would head into the locker room with a 33-21 lead at the break.
Gustavus shot 48.1 percent from the field in the first half, while Macalester shot 34.6 percent. The Gusties tallied nine steals, as Macalester committed 16 turnovers in the frame. Colleen Ruane led all scorers with nine points on 4-of-5 shooting.
The Gusties jumped on the Scots early in the second half, taking a 19-point lead (44-25) by the 15:14 mark of the period. A free throw (44-32) by Audrey Mills two minutes later would be the closest Macalester would come for the remainder, as the Gusties responded with an 11-0 run, extending the lead to 55-32. Gustavus’s largest lead of the half was 24 points inside the seventh and fourth minutes.
Both Molly Geske and Ava Perry caught fire in the second half. Geske went 5-7 from the field and 2-2 from three point range for a total of 12 points, while Perry went 2-3 from behind the arc for six points. Gustavus outshot Macalester 55.6 to 33.3 percent in the half.
Macalester was led in scoring by Majra Mucic, who tallied 17 points and brought down a game-high 14 rebounds. The Scots went 18-34 (34%) from the field, 7-22 (31.8%) from three point range, and 9-13 (69.2%) from the free throw line in the game.
11 Gustavus players registered at least a point in tonight’s contest. Perry finished behind Geske with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Molly Mathiowetz led the team in rebounding with five and assists with three. The Gusties went 30-58 (51.7%) from the field, 7-14 (50%) from behind the arc, and 6-9 (66.7%) at the line.
“The last couple of games our bench has really gotten involved in the game. They sparked us two nights ago in a long game at St. Olaf, and tonight they set the tone again,” said Haller. “Their energy has really made a difference in our play.”
The Gustavus women’s basketball team will travel to St. Joseph, Minn. to take on Saint Benedict on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 3:00 p.m. It will be the Gusties last contest before an over 20-day Christmas break.