Was over at the "new" Schoenecker Arena at the Anderson Athletic Complex on the UST campus on this Thursday evening for one of the two MIAC Playoff semifinal games going on this night. This one, of course, featured the Gusties of Gustavus Adolphus and the host St. Thomas Tommies who had swept GAC in their two regular season meetings. Still, there was that feeling of uncertainty about this game even with the home court advantage the Tommies would be enjoying in this game. I also had the feeling that this was going to be a special night as not only current Bethel players Shana Grejtak, Taylor Sheley, and Danielle Ruberg were in attendance after going down to the Gusties just two nights before but also former Gusties Bri Radtke and Amber Steffenhagen; cleverly dressed up in black and gold Gustie regalia - complete with sunglasses and black and gold socks - sitting courtside ready to cheer their former teammates on and wanting desperately to help atone for the heartbreaking loss to UST last year in this same situation in St. Peter that killed the Gusties NCAA hopes.
The bulk of the first half was actually quite close; very tight. Tommie senior post Rachel Booth got her team on the scoreboard first with a drive along the baseline and finish at the 19:36 mark but junior Colleen Ruane would answer for the Gusties a little more than a minute later with a lay-up. There would be at least five ties and four lead changes within the first 16 minutes of the game. After senior post Molly Mathiowetz pulled her team to within one of UST; trailing 21-20, the Tommies suddenly exploded. Sophomore guard Kellie Ring drained a "3" from the right wing to expand the Tommie advantage to 24-20 at the 4:03 mark. A little less than a minute later, freshman sensation Maggie Weiers scored off the glass to up the advantage to 26-20. After junior reserve post Sarah Smith knocked down a free throw at the 2:12 mark, senior forward Jazmin Townsend swished a "3" from the left corner with just under a minute remaining that enabled the host Tommies to go into the locker room at the half with a 30-20 lead. Not only had the Gusties gone colder than a rock coming down the stretch, they also looked shocked and a little intimidated by UST (again); remembering how they got punched in the mouth in the last regular season game back in St. Peter. In simplest terms, UST was able to establish an inside presence that loosened things up on the perimeter for them as well and they took full advantage of it.
As I later learned, the Gustie players had wrote on the board in the locker room something that I'd probably better not repeat here but they were obviously tired of being pushed around and collectively decided it was time to fight back. And they definitely came out with a new attitude in the second half. Mathiowetz, closing out a fine career as a Gustie, decided to put her team on her back as she started out the second half at the 19:29 mark by scoring off the glass and getting the Gusties back to within single digits. But Tommie junior PG Carolyn Dienhart knocked down a "3" on the ensuing possession pushing the Tommie lead back to double digits. Mathiowetz, however, would not be deterred. Another score by #43 in black and gold came at the 18:42 mark which was followed up by two made free throws at the 15:22 mark. Then Mathiowetz helped the Gusties cut the Tommie lead to a scant four points when she scored inside at the 14:39 mark. Smith, Townsend and Dienhart helped push the Tommie lead back up to nine points but the Gusties would slowly climb back into it. Sophomore Kelsey Florian knocked down two free throws after being fouled at the 9:33 mark and then sophomore reserve post Abby Rothenbuehler made her presence felt as she knocked down two FTs and later scored inside at the 8:22 mark that got the visitors into better position trailing only 42-37
Despite freshman Kelly Brandenburg's score at the 5:35 mark that once again upped the Tommie ante to nine points, Mathiowetz continued to shine. She put down two free throws at the 5:17 mark and then junior Molly Geske who struggled this night helped bring the Gusties closer when she connected with a jumper at the 4:46 mark. Mathiowetz again would show her mettle at the charity stripe with two more made FTs at the 3:14 mark and would do so again at the 2:31 mark to whittle the Tommie lead down to 48-45. Finally, junior Ava Perry who was strangely quiet on this night as well scored her only basket of the night at the 2:31 mark - but it was a "3" that tied things up at 48-all.
The last two minutes would be a chess match of sorts between the two teams. Both Florian and Weiers missed chances to put their teams ahead in the waning seconds. After a time-out, Ruth Sinn devised a play that would put Young in prime position from short range to win the game. With just :05.6 remaining, Young made a beautiful move as she was hounded by Gusties and elevated high enough and swished down a short jumper to give the Tommies the game winning margin of 50-48. GAC had one more chance after the ensuing time out. Geske calmly drove the ball down the floor and was hounded by Tommies as she went up for the shot before the buzzer sounded. It was short and the Tommies had secured a berth in the MIAC Championship game and a 50-48 win.
No comments:
Post a Comment