The No. 6 Gustavus women’s basketball team delivered a commanding 71-35 victory over Hamline on Thursday, Feb. 27, securing their spot in the MIAC Playoff Championship for the fourth consecutive year.
Gustavus (25-1, 17-1 MIAC) shot an impressive 48% from the field (24-for-50) and 41.2% from beyond the arc. Their defense smothered Hamline (19-8, 13-5 MIAC), holding them to just 25% shooting (13-for-52) and keeping the Pipers in single digits for the final three quarters.
Despite entering the game as the top three-point shooting team in the MIAC, Hamline was stifled by the Gusties’ defense. Gustavus, on the other hand, made their mark from the three-point line, hitting 4-of-7 shots in the first half, including a pair of clutch three-pointers from Emily Bowron (So., Rochester, Minn.).
The Pipers stayed close in the opening quarter, tying the game three times and forcing eight early turnovers. However, the Gusties’ offense, led by Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.) and Izzy Quick (5th, Brooklyn Park, Minn.), found its rhythm, and Gustavus took a 17-point lead into halftime after a strong second quarter.
Hamline struggled to mount a comeback, shooting just 21.4% in the third quarter, while Gustavus kept their momentum, limiting the Pipers to just 26 points entering the final frame. The Gusties’ bench played a key role in the fourth quarter, with Quick recording her second double-double of the season and Bowron scoring 12 points, her highest of the year.
The Gusties’ defense was unrelenting, forcing eight turnovers in the final 10 minutes and holding Hamline to just two field goals in the quarter, as they secured a dominant 71-35 win.
Kniefel led all players with 16 points, shooting 71.4% from the field and 71.4% from the free-throw line. Quick added 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Bowron contributed 12 points, including 3-for-4 from three-point range.
Hamline’s Lauren Cooper was the lone bright spot for the Pipers, finishing with 11 points. However, no Hamline player grabbed more than five rebounds, and the Pipers committed 23 turnovers.
The Gusties will now look to defend their title in the MIAC Championship on Saturday, March 1, where they will face No. 24 Bethel at 3 p.m. The game will be played at Robertson Center Gym in Arden Hills, Minnesota.
Related topics:
