WINONA, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s basketball team dropped an MIAC contest to Saint Mary’s in overtime Wednesday night 75-66. With the loss the Gusties fall to 17-7 overall and 13-6 in the MIAC, while the Cardinals move to 5-19 overall and 5-14 in the conference.
Gustavus got out a slow start, as the Cardinals took control early and held a 16-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Gusties struggles continued in the second quarter, with the Black and Gold going 1-of-14 from the field and committing six turnovers in the second frame as they outscored 10-2 and trailed 26-12 at the half.
The Gusties were finally able to answer back in the third quarter, outscoring the Cardinals 13-8 in the first five minutes. Maddy Rice (Fy., Forest Lake) then added to the run with seven straight points to cut the Saint Mary’s lead to two, before Anna Sanders (Fy., Vadnais Heights) knocked down a three to give Gustavus its first lead of the game 35-34. After the teams tied at 36, Rice would hit two threes that were answered by one Cardinal triple and would give the Gusties a 42-39 lead heading into the final frame.
The teams would trade baskets early on in the fourth, tying things up at 47 and 49 before Saint Mary’s was able to take its lead back at 52-49. The Cardinals would eventually build their lead to four before Gustavus scored six straight to take a 58-56 lead. Saint Mary’s would even things up with a pair of free throws with eight seconds left and a Gustavus turnover would send things to overtime.
The overtime period was all Saint Mary’s though, as they would score the first eight points and never give up the lead. Gustavus would pull it within six but the Cardinals held on for the 75-66 win.
Sanders led the Gusties with 18 points in the contest to go along with a team-high seven rebounds. Maddy Rice added 13 points, while Caitlin Rorman (Fy., Blue Earth) chipped in 11. Gustavus shot 23-of-67 in the contest for 34.3 percent, while also committing 27 turnovers.
Gustavus is now locked in as the No. 4 seed in the MIAC playoffs, and they will finish up the regular season at Augsburg on Saturday.