After managing to get my 2013 Ford Edge that was seemingly trapped like a sardine in a can in the Bethel parking lot out, I then battled my way down the God-forsaken (and I mean God-forsaken) snow- and ice-packed St. Paul streets (and there is NO place worse in America to have to drive, either) down to St. Kate's and the Butler Center where I managed to get into the bleachers next to former St. Kate's Head Coach Gary Rusvold and settled in with 12:45 left in the game and GAC comfortably up by a score of 49-32.
In this one, with the Gusties enjoying a seemingly safe lead, they were able to show all facets of their multi-talented offensive attack. Lanky sophomore forward Lindsey Johnson sank two freebies right at the 12:45 mark to increase the lead to 51-32 and then senior guard Julia Dysthe connected with a short jumper from the left side at the 11:27 mark to make it a 53-32 game. Then it was solid sophomore post Karina Schroeder muscling into the paint for a score at the 10:57 mark for a 55-34 lead. St. Kate's would make dents in the Gustie cushion but could never get close enough to make the GAC contingent worry. Freshman phenom LaShay Holt was able to get into the paint for a score and then senior guard/forward Kristen Lee; playing in her last game as a Wildcat, uncorked one of her patented "3's" from the top of the key with 9:13 left and a Holt lay-up in transition with 8:28 left whittled the deficit down to seventeen at 58-41.
St. Kate's freshman forward Mari Lee knocked down a jumper with 7:43 left that kept the deficit at seventeen but then the Gusties unleashed their offensive forces again. Dysthe popped in a "3" with 7:29 left and another foray and finish in the paint by Schroeder with 6:38 left upped the Gustie lead to 65-43. Two successful trips to the charity stripe by diminutive senior point guard Shelly Blaschko increased the lead to 69-43. The Wildcats with nothing to lose in this one still kept plugging away and Kristen Lee, playing loose and full of fun, got one score in the paint with 4:56 left and drained the last "3" of her college career with 4:28 left from the right top area. With a comfortable lead in hand (as well as that precious sixth playoff spot in the pocket as well) Gustavus Head Coach Laurie Kelly was able to get some of her bench players into the game in the last few minutes that allowed them to grab some spotlight. Freshman reserve forward Morgan Iverson knocked down a "3" from the left corner with 4:09 left and sophomore reserve forward Julie Sohre knocked down two free throws after getting fouled with 2:19 left. Fellow sophomore reserve forward Kelle Nett also got one charity stripe shot to go down with 2:04 left and a Sohre jumper from the left corner with 1:42 left upped the Gustie lead to 80-52. St. Kate's Head Coach Sean Pinkerton took Kristen Lee out of the game with just under a minute left to a standing ovation from the crowd on hand and the Gusties officially sealed the sixth playoff spot with a resounding 82-52 victory.
In looking ahead to the first round playoff game at UST next week Tuesday, the Gusties; still smarting from that 90-56 dough-popping they absorbed from the Tommies over at Schoenecker Arena back on Wednesday night, know they have only two days to prepare for this same UST squad before Tuesday night's rematch back at Schoenecker. And Kelly was straight to the point when I asked her about that. "We have to play better basketball" she said frankly. She specifically pointed out to the first half when they were still relatively close to the Tommies; trailing by only three points and then inexplicably went five straight possessions without scores and committed turnovers in the process when UST was employing that all too-well known full- and half-court pressure. I think it's fair to say that the Tommies will be prohibitive favorites in this rematch but, at the same time, I think you have to give Kelly and her Gustavus squad a lot of credit for battling back when their hopes appeared all but dead and buried shortly after the first of the year. This is a team dominated by freshmen and sophomores and it seems hard to believe that Dysthe, Blaschko and lanky Britta Rinke are all on the verge of playing their last game wearing the black and gold. Still, the future appears bright down in St. Peter. Meanwhile, a rough, rough year for Pinkerton and his assistant Tim Kjar as the Wildcats endured a multitude of injuries to key players before and during the season that hampered them from day one. But, as I said at the beginning of the year, this is a program to keep your eye on and I won't shy away from that. Sophomore point guard Gabby Zehrer will get her sophomore year back and she will be a tough one to stop when she is fully healed. And both freshman Alexis Garcia and junior Mary Neumann will bolster the Wildcat front line when they return fully healed. So, Wildcat faithful, keep the faith!
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