SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s basketball team is back home tonight as it hosts Saint Benedict at 7 p.m. The Gusties enter the contest 7-6 overall and 4-2 in the MIAC, while the Bennies are 6-7 overall and 2-4 in the league.
THE SERIES
Wednesday’s game marks the 77th meeting between Gustavus and Saint Benedict with the Bennies leading the series 49-27. In game one of this season’s series on Dec. 1, the Bennies won 64-61. For the second straight game Gustavus struggled from beyond the arc, making just 1-of-14 three-pointers, which proved to be the difference in the outcome.
The first quarter featured four lead changes with the fourth one going in favor of Saint Ben’s, which proved to be the last. The Bennies finished the opening quarter on a 7-4 run to take a 17-14 lead and never trailed the rest of the game.
The home team’s largest lead was 45-30 with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter before the Gusties staged their comeback effort. Gustavus cut the lead in half to finish the third frame and brought the score all the way down to one point at 62-61 with 14 second left in the game, but a pair of Bennie free throws extended the lead back to three and the last-second shot was no good.
Paige Richert led the Gusties with her first career double-double at 16 points and 11 rebounds. Justine Lee reached double figures as well with 10 points.
Gustavus shot 39.7 percent from the field and lost the rebound battle 33-30. The Gusties shot well from the charity stripe, making 14-of-16 free throws.
SCOUTING THE GUSTIES
Gustavus is coming off a convincing 73-43 win at Carleton on Saturday, ending a two-game losing skid. Through 13 games the Gusties average 66.5 points and allow 58.3 points per game. They shoot 40.1 percent from the field and 26.6 percent from three-point range. Rebounding has been close with the Gusties at a -1.2 margin against opponents but the Gusties are winning the turnover battle by a margin on +7.8 per game. Justine Lee leads the offense with 13.0 points per game. She is shooting 43.0 percent from the field and is 24-of-31 from the free-throw line. Kendall Thompson is next with 12.9 points per game. She also averages a team-best 5.1 rebounds per game and has a team-high 45 steals. Paige Richert average double figures as well with 11.2 points per game. She also contributes 5.0 rebounds and shoots a team-high 49.1 percent from the floor.
SCOUTING THE BENNIES
Saint Ben’s most recently defeated Macalester 64-60 on Saturday and has won three of its past four games. Through 13 games this season, the Bennies average 62.4 points and allow 67.1 per game. They shoot 40.1 percent from the floor and 30.2 percent from beyond the arc. CSB is the most disciplined team in the MIAC with a league-low 13.7 personal fouls per game. Maddie Schmitz leads the offense with 12.5 points per game. She also contributes 6.1 rebounds and shoots 43.8 percent from the floor. Megan Thompson is the other Bennie in double figures at 12.1 points per game. Alex Johnson leads the team down low with 8.0 rebounds per game and a team-high 20 blocks.