Was at the spanking new Anderson Athletic Facility and the "new" Schoenecker Arena for the tilt between Gustavus and host St. Thomas. While struggling GAC was coming off a home victory against St. Kate's the Tommies were cruising along and this figured to be Tommie romp; at least in my mind anyway.
Things started out pretty tight as GAC's Kelsey Florian finished a Gustie fast break and put the visitors up 2-0. Unfortunately for the Gusties, they seem to have this nasty little habit of not playing defense; particularly on the perimeter and willowy junior forward Ali Johnson, perhaps the MIAC's premier 3-point shooter, made the Gusties pay twice in the early going. But GAC's Molly Geske let the host team know that she had definitely showed up as she drained a "3" at the 17:26 mark and knocked down another jumper a few seconds later. A little less than a minute later GAC sophomore post Abby Rothenbuler drove to the hole and finished and suddenly GAC was in front 11-6.
But the Tommies would quickly regain the momentum as both Rachel Booth and freshman Maggie Weiers enabled UST to forge ahead 14-11 by the 11:22 mark. Things would stay tight over the next several minutes but at the 3:22 mark the Tommies made another major push when Tommie PG Carolyn Dienhart drained a "3" from the right corner that put UST up 24-19. Then, junior Sarah Smith nailed a "3" from the same spot with :29.3 left and the Tommies went into the locker room at the half with a 30-21 lead. UST was able to take advantage of several GAC miscues coming down the stretch that also helped.
The Gusties came out with fire and determination in their eyes as the second half got underway. Geske started it off with a turnaround jumper at the 19:12 mark and Rothenbuler then swished a "3" from the top a bit later. On the next possession, Rothenbuler was fouled driving the lane and calmly sank the charity stripe shots and GAC once again found itself down by a scant two points. After two free throws by Booth, Geske knocked down another "3" to pull GAC to within one. Booth again answered; this time with a lay-up but Gustie PG Colleen Ruane drilled a "3" of her own to knot things up at 34-all. UST's Jazmin Townsend; whose "3" in the MIAC playoffs against the Gusties last year late in the game all but extinguished GAC's great season, dropped another "3" to put the Tommies back up but Ruane again countered with her second "3" pointer shortly afterward that knotted things up again at 37-all. The sky seemed to be raining with "3's" as Ali Johnson knocked down two more over the next couple of minutes but the Gusties would not wilt. Julia Dysthie, the freshman sharp-shooter from White Bear Lake, knocked down a "3" at the 11:57 mark that put GAC back out in front 44-43. The Gusties would lead by as many as five points but UST knew it had Ali Johnson primed and ready to go and she responded by draining an NBA-range "3" that brought the Tommies to within one.
Things would again stay tight coming down the stretch. At the 3:54 mark, Dienhart would drive and score and get fouled in the process. Although she missed the freebie, Johnson was not boxed out and she scored on a lay-up that put the Tommies back up by one. UST would consolidate on its lead when Townsend scored inside to put the Tommies up by three at 60-57. But the Gusties were far from finished. With just :45.7 left; Ruane took an offensive rebound and drove inside and scored and was fouled. Her ensuing free throw pulled the Gusties to within one; trailing 62-61. With scant seconds left, the Gusties were forced to fould Taylor Young and she did knock down both free throws. Still, the Gusties had one last chance to try and send the game into overtime. With just five seconds left, the ball went out on top to Rothenbuler who was left open but, unfortunately for GAC, her three-point attempt was woefully short and the Tommies were able to knock down two more freebies to seal the deal for a 66-61 win.
While it was definitely an inspired effort by the Gusties, they still need to shore up some of their defensive woes (read getting out on the perimeter to defend the "3"). While this is still a young team by and large, there's still more than enough experience there where someone has to step up and be a leader on this team and I have yet to see that happen.
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