SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s basketball team opens its 2021 campaign tomorrow when it travels to Augsburg for a 2 p.m. contest after 345 days without playing a game. The Gusties, who lost in the MIAC semifinals to Bethel last season, return three experienced senior veterans as well as an experienced underclassmen lineup.
“Last year we had returners with a great amount of experience. Our current seniors were playing in the Sweet Sixteen matchup as first-years.” said Head Coach Laurie Kelly. “On the other end we had first years last season who made an impact right away in the 2019-20 season. We had some ups and downs and it was a great growing experience overall.”
The Gusties finished last season 13-7 to end fourth in the conference and 18-9 overall. Offense was a strong point last year as the team finished third in points per game (72.8), and third in field goal percentage (45.2).
This year’s team is led by senior captains Rachel Skyberg (Sr., Pipestone), Gabby Bowlin (Sr., Winona), and Ava Gonsorowski (Sr., Esko). Gonsorowski led the team last season in free throws made (115), assists (92), and steals (57).
“The three of them compliment each other well, they have different roles on the team, they have different personalities and how they lead,” Kelly said. “All by example but all different levels of being vocal. Gabby Bowlin having a season-ending hand injury last year changed our dynamic and we missed out on having her on the court. Rachel hasn’t had the most minutes in her experience here but she’s been the most valuable teammate in the last two years of this program and is the glue that keeps things light-hearted at practice. Her passion and love for the game is infectious. All three understand what’s on the line and that this could be the end for them so they set the tone.”
Last season Caitlin Rorman (So., Blue Earth) was named MIAC Rookie of the Year and West Region Rookie of the Year, ranking fourth in the conference in points per game (16.5) and second in field goal percentage (61.3), setting a high standard alongside sophomore guards Maddy Rice (So., Forest Lake) and Anna Sanders (So., Vadnais Heights).
Despite the MIAC playoff and NCAA championships being cancelled this season, the Gusties remain grateful for the season they have and memories they still get to make.
“Gratitude has been a word we’ve been using a lot because we’re just so grateful to be together,” Kelly said. “For our players to walk in and play basketball for two hours is probably the only thing normal that they get to do on a daily basis. We can only control what we control. Each of us makes decisions that affect all of us and now when we start competing, and whatever our competition chooses to do affects us as well. The pandemic is here and we can’t change that. We are within rules and constraints of what we can and cannot do. If we focus on what we can’t do, it’s just going to make the experience negative. We’re happy to be in the gym, even in masks. We aren’t always guaranteed a game so with our players our mentality is that every time we step on the floor it could be our last. We do all the same things, we just do it louder and farther apart.”