Coast Guard Academy 62, Gustavus 51 (Box)
TRUJILLO ALTO, P.R. – Despite a season-high 33 points from its bench, the Gustavus Adolphus College women’s basketball team was unable to earn a Puerto Rican sweep, as it fell 62-51 to Coast Guard Academy on Tuesday in the team’s final game of its winter training trip. The loss snaps a seven-game win streak for the Gusties who are now 8-3 on the season, while the Bears improve to an even 5-5.
Sophomore Steph Klockmann (Brownton, Minn.) registered her first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds and also matched her career high in points. Klockmann scored seven of her 11 points at the free-throw line, and nine of her 12 rebounds were on the offensive end. First-year Brooke Lemke (Delano, Minn.) also had a career day, as the frosh tallied 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting, with two triples. Sophomore Mikayla Miller (Goodhue, Minn.) was the third player in double figures for the Gusties, as she scored 11 points and also grabbed eight rebounds.
Coast Guard Academy was led by sophomore Gill Gerton, who tallied her second double-double in as many days by tying the game high in rebounds with 12 to go along with 15 points and a game high four blocks. Senior Meghan Fornaro was also key for the Bear’s offense, as she tallied 22 points, five boards, three assists, and two steals, while fellow senior Torie Sutherland was a point and rebound short of a double double with nine points and nine rebounds.
The first quarter was a close affair, as the Bears only held a four point, 20-16 lead after 10 minutes. However, the second quarter proved to be the difference-maker in the game, as Coast Guard Academy outscored Gustavus 18-7 to take a 38-23 lead into halftime.
The Gusties played a better second half and outscored the Bears 28-24 in the final 20 minutes, but it was too little, too late and Coast Guard Academy snapped its three-game losing streak by earning the 11-point, 62-51 win.
After tallying a season low shooting percentage in Monday’s victory over Ramapo College, Gustavus was cold again on Tuesday, only shooting 21.3 percent (16-75) from the floor, including going 16.7 percent (3-18) from three. The Gusties’ biggest boost came from their bench as they outscored the Bears’ reserves 33-7.
Coast Guard Academy shot 42.6 percent (26-61) from the floor, including a 51.5 percent mark in the first half. The Bears saw their biggest advantage in the paint, as they outscored the Gusties 32-12.
Gustavus returns from Puerto Rico and dives back into conference play with a Jan. 6 matchup at No. 6 University of St. Thomas. Tip-off with the Tommies is slated for 7 p.m. in St. Paul.