Kim Wickert hit the game-winning basket as time expired to give #23-Carroll College the 65-64 victory over the Gustavus women’s basketball team on Saturday afternoon in the semifinal round of the Surf’n Slam Tourney. The Gustie defense forced 23 turnovers, but Carroll shot 52% from the field in the victory.
The Golden Gusties came out strong in the first half on their way to a 22-12 lead with 9:33 left in the period. Coach Haller’s squad held Carroll to 44% shooting in the first half, while Gustavus shot 48% to head into intermission with a 37-30 lead.
Carroll shot a blazing hot 61% from the floor in the second-half starting with a 8-2 run to cut the Gustie lead to one with 16:39 remaining in the contest. A Crystal Hoewisch three-pointer gave Carroll its first lead of the game at 47-46 with 11:48 left. Both squads exchanged leads with Carroll building its biggest lead of five points with 4:52 on the clock.
Jess Vadnais (Sr., Hudson, Wis.) converted three free-throws with 00:51 seconds left after being fouled on a three-point shot to give Gustavus a 64-63 lead. Carroll’s Kim Wickert then hit the game-winner as time expired for the 65-64 win .
Three Gusties finished in double-figures as Vadnais scored 28 points, Katie Layman (So., Hudson, Wis.) scored 12 points, and Molly Mathiowetz (Fy., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) came off the bench for 14 points and nine rebounds. Wickert and Hoewisch scored 25 and 20 points, respectively, as the only Carroll players to reach double-digits.
Gustavus, which drops its overall record to 4-2, will play the loser of Maryville (MO)/UW-Stevens Point at 2:00 PST on Saturday, December 29. Carroll, which improves to 6-2, will face the winner of Maryville/UW-Stevens Point at 4:00 PST on Saturday, December 29.