SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s basketball team battled in the first half Thursday at top seed St. Thomas in the MIAC semifinals, but couldn’t keep pace in the second half in a 64-39 loss. The Gusties end the season 15-12 overall.
St. Thomas started the game with a quick 5-0 lead before the Gusties stormed back with seven unanswered points over a two-minute span. The Tommies regained the lead on the next possession and held a 13-12 advantage after the first quarter.
Gustavus started the second frame on an 8-2 run with four layups, but was held scoreless for the final five minutes of the half as the home team regained a 23-20 advantage at the break.
Both teams shot under 30 percent in the opening half with the Gusties at 27.3 percent (9-33) and the Tommies at 29 percent (9-31). Rebounds were even 23-23 at the half.
St. Thomas created separation in the third quarter with seven unanswered points to start the half and the Gusties were never able to recover. The Tommies ended the third with a 43-27 lead and led by as much as 31 points in the fourth quarter.
Gustavus shot 25.8 percent (16-62), while the Tommies shot 45.8 percent (27-59). The home team also won the rebound battle 44-35.
“We struggled to make threes. It’s not our strength but we needed them to fall tonight and we couldn’t make it happen,” Head Coach Laurie Kelly said. “It was tough to find a rhythm on offense with the way St. Thomas plays defense. But we made it to the semifinals with a young team and we have something to build from.”
Ava Gonsorowski (So., Esko, Minn.) led the Gusties with 14 points along with five rebounds. Kendall Thompson (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) added 12 points in her final game wearing the Black and Gold. Justine Lee (Sr., Dawson, Minn.) set the program record for career games, playing in her 113th game tonight.
“I can’t say enough about our seniors,” Kelly said. “They played all four years and nearly every game with Kendall missing only one. It was fun to see where they started as first-years to where they are as leaders now.”