Gustavus vs Macalester

After doing color commentary for the Hamline vs Bethel game over at Bethel, I hurried down Snelling Avenue to catch the 3 P.M. game between Gustavus and host Macalester over at the Leonard Center.  This was a game the Gusties really needed to improve on their West Regional ranking - and to help secure a ticket for the Big Dance only a few mere weeks away.  But, just as Augsburg had recently found out the hard way, you don't want to rely on luck when you're going up against an Ellen Thompson-coached Macalester squad.

I got over to Macalester and settled in at the 12:38 mark.  The Gusties were up 13-8 and appeared to have things in control; up 20-12 when sophomore Eli Benz scored inside at the 7:40 mark.  But the Scots cut the Gustie lead to a scant point by the 5:48 mark before Gustavus was able to step on the gas again somewhat and consolidate when ever-improving junior Steph Comer nailed a "3" from the right top and then lanky junior post Abby Rothenbuehler did the same from the left top with just :03 left before the intermission and it looked as if the Gusties hand things in control, at least, up 32-26.

The Gusties would be able to keep this cushion for first six or so minutes of the second half but could never really pull away.  And that's all this Macalester squad needed to pull off an upset - just keep it halfway close.  The Rene Sister - Jessica and Shannon - must have given the Gusties nightmares of that one game back in 2010 down in St. Peter when the dynamic twin sister act hit "3;s" at the 14:06 and 13:18 mark that suddenly tied things at 39-all.  The Gusties would recover somewhat and grab a small lead but the Scots were simply more resilient coming down the stretch while the Gusties strangely (and frustratingly) failed to show the heart and desire (not to mention a sense of urgency) they needed to have in this one.  Rothenbuehler nailed another "3" at the 7:34 mark that gave Gustavus a 49-47 lead but she was also getting into some serious foul trouble coming down the stretch.  Senior post Holly Schiedermayer decided to do something about that when she was fouled down low by Rothenbuehler that sent the Gustie junior to the bench and spelled impending doom for the black-clad Gusties.  Senior Molly Geske did hit a "3" at the 2:46 mark that tied things up once more at 56-all.  But Schiedermayer was nails again on the charity stripe and two more freebies put the Scots back up for good at the 2:20 mark.  The nail in the coffin for Gustavus came with just 1:37 left when junior guard Kyanna Jones, one of the quickest players in the conference, caught the Gusties flat-footed on defense and drove inside and finished and got fouled in the process.  Her obligatory freebie pushed Macalester's lead to 62-56 and the Gusties were in deep doo-doo and were not able to get out of it as the Scots pulled off a huge upset by a count of 65-56.