Gustavus men and women sweep Hamline; and take a look at those St. Mary’s women!

Gustavus Adolphus swept a men’s and women’s doubleheader Wednesday night (January 22) at Hamline. The Gusties men won a grinder in the early game 63-58 to remain unbeaten and tied for 1st place with St. John’s at 8-0. The Gusties women  pullled away in the 2nd half to win 67-51 to remain in 2nd place in the MIAC at 8-1. The Hamline men and women both remain in a 3rd place tie in the MIAC with 3 losses. Following are our game reports, plus an overall update of the MIAC championship races including a quick look-in at the amazing St. Mary’s Cardinal women.

Gustavus men 63 Hamline 58

The lead changed hands or the game was tied 8 times in the 1st 8 minutes. Hamline led 13-12  when Myles Barnette scored a pair of baskets, one of them an and-one, to put Gustavus ahead 17-13. Their largest leads were 24-18 at about 4:30 and 26-20 at one minute. It was 26-22 at the half as Brady Kienitz had 8 for Gustavus and Raoul Vaidya 7 for Hamline.

Hamline regained the lead 34-33 at 11:30 as Vaidya scored 5 quick points. There were 8 lead changes on the next 12 scores over then next 7:30. Austin Holt tied it up for Hamline at 56 with a 2+1, but Gustavus made its last 7 shots to end the game–3 by Spencer Swanson and 2 by Carson Koch, coming off the Gusties bench.

Gustavus needed to finish 7-of-7 to get its FG percentage up to 39%, while Hamline shot just 37%. Vaidya was the top player. His quickness gave Gustavus fits on defense and he made 8-of6-14 shots for 20 points. Swanson also shot a respectable 6-of-12 and finished with 16 points, 7 of them in the last 3 minutes. Vaidya and Swanson shot 54%. Everybody else shot 34%. Gustavus outscored Hamline in the paint 32-22 and outrebounded them 42-34. 3 Hamline starters had one rebound among them.

Gustavus women 67 Hamline 51

This one started out like the men–a close grinder of a game. It was 21-all early in the 2nd period when Gustavus went on a 16-6 run. Izzy quick scored a 2 + 1 and then a pair of throws while post Rachel Kawiecki also scored twice. Gustavus got into the double bonus and twice Hamline fouled them below the opposite FT line, 60 feet from the basket, giving the Gusties 4 easy points. Hamline’s interior play was also exposed in that 2nd period as they gave up 5 offensive rebounds and 4 2nd chance points.

Hamline got within 39-36 in the 3rd but over the next 8 minutes missed 5 FG and 2 FT and turned it over 7 times to trail 47-39 after 3. Still, Hamline again got within 47-43 in the 4th but turned it over another 8 times in the period. Overall, Hamline turned it over 22 times, 16 of them in the 2nd half, and was outscored 16-7 in points off turnovers.

For Hamline, Camille Cummings, Yasmeen Abed and Kate Trachsel shot a more than respectable 16-of-32, but their teammates managed only 2-of-12. Gustavus only outshot Hamline 42% to 41 but got off 11 more shots thanks to 13 offensive rebounds and to those Hamline turnovers. They also made 17 FT to Hamline’s 10. Gustavus posts Kawiecki and Kelly Morgan combined for 26 points, while Emma Kniefel scored 16 with 9 boards.

MIAC Playoffs

So, the Gustavus men and women are an impressive 16-1 combined, but challenges remain. The women are at 3rd place (tie) Concordia this Saturday January 25. Then both play at Bethel against the Royals’ 1st place women and 3rd place men on Saturday February 8. Finally, the men get the unbeaten Johnnies of St. John at home on Saturday February 15. The playoffs begin on Tuesday February 25 and you can bet that the Gusties will be there.

The Hamline men face 3 of the current top 6 before all is said and done, 2 of them on the road; while the Hamline women will face 4 of the current top 6, 3 of them on the road. Still, unless and until you hear otherwise, Hamline also expects to see you in both of the MIAC playoffs.

Right now the matchups would be:

Men

Augsburg at Bethel

Carleton at Hamline

Augsburg or Bethel at Gustavus

Carleton or Hamline at St. John’s

Women

St. Scholastica at Concordia

St. Mary’s at Hamline

St. Scholastica or Concordia at Gustavus

St. Mary’s or Hamline at Bethel

Hey! How About Those St. Mary’s Women

I don’t know if or when I’m going to get out to see the St. Mary’s women but, wow! They’re 6-3 and in the playoffs right now after going 0-20 in the conference a year ago. The Cardinals have a new coach in Courtney Shelton, who played at Northern Illinois and was an assistant coach at Central Michigan and Milwaukee. And, they have a new point guard in Brianna Nussbaum, a 5-8 freshman from Spring Lake Park, who is averaging 15 ppg, 4 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals. 6-footers Kali Olson, a sophomore from New York Mills, and Riley Sternquist, a freshman from Big Lake, are combining for 19 points and 13 rebounds. St. Mary’s has 3 consecutive games coming up at Hamline and Gustavus and against Bethel at home.

 

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