Macalester vs. Gustavus statistics
Macalester shot a season-high 58% but came up short against league-leading Gustavus 74-66 at the Leonard Center as the Gusties avenge a loss to the Scots earlier in the season. The Gusties held a slim 35-32 halftime advantage and then made 13 of their first 16 second half shots to maintain their lead against a Mac team which was nearly equally hot and always within striking distance in this exciting contest.
The Gusties, who shot 71% in the second half (17-for-24), hold on to a one-game lead for first place in the MIAC standings and improve to 17-3 overall, 15-2 in conference play. Mac is handed its fourth straight defeat and drops to 11-9 on the season and 11-6 in the MIAC.
Macalester was 22-for-31 on shots inside the arc and received a game-high 21 points from MIAC scoring leader
Ann Baltzer (Sr., Bismarck, N.D.), who was 8-for-10 from the field.
Jessica Rene (So., Eau Claire, Wis. / Memorial) added 13 points and four assists, while
Eartha Bell (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Breck School) had another solid all-around game, providing nine points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals. Bell has grabbed 22 rebounds from her back court position and handed out nine assists in the team's past two games.
Trina PaStarr (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Southwest) finished with eight points and three steals.
Gustavus had four players in double figures, led by Brianna Radtke with 19 points to go along with four assists. Molly Geske added 15 points and Julia Schultz produced 10 points and nine boards. Molly Mathiowetz had 11 points and six steals.
The first half was close throughout and featured eight ties and four lead changes. The Scots never trailed by double digits in the second half against the hot-shooting Gusties and were within five points at 70-65 with 2:19 to play. However, they managed just one point the rest of the way.
Gustavus enjoyed a 24-11 lead in points off turnovers and netted 46 points in the paint.
The Scots make the trip to Minneapolis Saturday (Feb. 7) to take on Augsburg.
