MILWAUKEE – In their season opener, the Gustavus Adolphus College Golden Gusties women’s basketball team faced off against the Wisconsin Lutheran College Knights at the Paul F. Knueppel Classic on Friday night, concluding the game with a score of 69-54 in favor of the Knights.
The game began with a competitive exchange between both teams. The Gusties took a brief lead at 15-14, thanks to a three-pointer from Kaitlyn Schaefer with just three minutes remaining in the first quarter. However, Wisconsin Lutheran responded quickly, not only reclaiming the lead but also finishing the quarter with a significant 14-2 run, ending the period at 28-17.
Wisconsin Lutheran maintained their momentum into the second quarter, pushing their lead to a substantial 23 points by halftime, as Gustavus trailed 49-26.
As the third quarter unfolded, the Gusties worked to close the gap. Shooting 47 percent from the field during this period, they managed to reduce the Knight’s advantage to just 10 points, entering the final quarter at 57-47.
However, the final quarter saw a resurgence from Wisconsin Lutheran. They opened the quarter with a three-pointer, effectively stalling Gustavus’s momentum, and controlled the game from there. The Knights outscored the Gusties 12-7 in this last stretch, sealing their victory at 69-54.
Kaitlyn Schaefer stood out for the Gusties, leading the team with 14 points. Anna Goodman contributed nine points and collected four steals, while Whitley Ronn topped the rebounds chart for Gustavus with eight to go along with three assists.
The Golden Gusties will look to bounce back in their next match, facing off against the DePauw University Tigers as part of the Paul F. Knueppel Classic at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 15.
