The Gustavus women’s basketball team extended its win streak to five games with a 72-64 victory over St. Thomas at Gus Young Court in St. Peter, Minn. Angie Peterson led the Gusties in scoring with 19 points. Gustavus improves to 17-4 overall and 15-3 in the MIAC, while St. Thomas falls to 10-11 overall and 9-9 in the MIAC.
St. Thomas got off to a fast start and led for virtually the entire first half. Two-free throws by Kristi Huegel gave the Tommies their biggest lead of the game at nine points (32-23) with 5:19 left in the first half. The Gusties rallied to outscore St. Thomas 11-2 the rest of the half but went into the lockerroom trailing by two at 36-34. Katie Wiberg led the Tommies with 13 points in the half.
The game stayed close through the early part of the second half as neither team held a lead bigger than three points. Junior post Kristin Kachelmyer made a layup to give Gustavus a three-point lead at 49-46 with 13:21 left to play. Kachelmyer’s basket started a 9-2 Gustie run that resulted in an eight-point Gustavus lead (56-48) with 10:54 remaining in the game. The Tommies would get no closer than five points the rest of the way. A free throw by Jen Klohs at the 5:49 mark gave Gustavus its biggest lead of the game at 12 (63-51).
St. Thomas rallied to cut the lead to five (65-60) with 2:20 left to play, however the Gusties outscored the Tommies 7-4 the rest of the way to hold on for the eight-point, 72-64 win. Gustavus was led by Angie Peterson with 19 points. Other players in double figures were Kristin Kachelmyer with 12 and Lacy Skoog with 10. St. Thomas was led by Kristi Huegel with 22 points. Katie Wiberg contributed 15.