Alli Joerger – Staff Writer
In the midst of the densely packed final stretch of the season, the Gustavus Women’s Basketball team managed to rally after a slow start to a convincing victory over St. Scholastica on Senior Day, setting the team up for another victory over Hamline within three days. Defeating St. Scholastica and Hamline back to back marks a five game winning streak for the Gusties and a solidified second seed in the MIAC playoffs. The Gusties hope to capitalize on their momentum as they face Saint Benedict on Feb. 16 and then head into the conference playoffs quarterfinal round, which the Gusties are set to host on Feb. 22.
The Gusties persisted through a relatively slow start in the game against St. Scholastica. After a few turnovers and missed shots from the Gusties in the first four minutes of the game, the home team trailed 4-5 heading into the second half of the first quarter. However, the team was able to turn the momentum around and regain the lead. Head Coach Laurie Kelly explained that the change in momentum was credited to “some stops on defense which allowed us to get some easy scores in transition.” This early refocus set the Gusties up for success as they “shot the ball better in the 2nd half and were able to dominate on the glass,” Kelly said. They regained the lead which was not lost for the duration of the game.
First-year Rachel Kawiecki reiterated the importance of refocusing early, explaining that, “we all knew what we had to do to get back playing Gustie basketball so… reiterating that in timeouts and on the floor really got us going.” Coach Kelly explained that Gustie basketball is more than just the statistical success on the court. Rather, it encompasses the intangible and embodies how the Gusties carry themselves in every situation. “We are a very close team on and off the floor. We talk about what we control…our effort, our attitude, our energy. Those need to be constant, no matter if shots are dropping or not. We also emphasize having fun and enjoying the moments.” Kelly said.
In the moments of shaken confidence early in the game, the team could also rely on its senior leadership to show up and demonstrate what Gustie basketball means. The upperclassmen of the 2021-2022 season, while not being returning starters, have been critical to the team’s success throughout the season. Coach Kelly explained that with such a young team, having influential senior leadership has been instrumental in developing the team chemistry necessary to make the dream of Gustie basketball an ongoing reality for the team.
Kawiecki reiterated that, as a First-year, having seniors that have been “nothing but supportive” have made the transition to college significantly easier. As an indicator of the team culture, the Gusties rallied together to represent their team-first mentality and regain control on a day to honor the seniors that have contributed to Gustie basketball, on and off the court.
Control is something that the Gusties strive for in every aspect of their game. On top of controlling their effort, energy, and attitude, the team focuses on maintaining what Kawiecki calls a “quick tempo” as part of the team’s usual game plan. As the team focuses on controlling the final stretch of their season, the athletes and coaching staff intend to take various preventive measures and fall back on their training as the team wraps up a stretch of densely packed games and heads into postseason play.
The athletes themselves recognize the importance of early advocacy for their health and have been making an effort to eat properly and get enough sleep, Kawiecki stated. Coach Kelly expands on the immediate physical requirements of preparing for the postseason and looks into how the team has been mentally preparing for these moments for the entire season. “This is what you play for! Coming down to the wire, every game feels like a playoff game. We are staying focused on one game at a time, focusing on winning each 10 minute quarter. We are in a really good position in the MIAC, and we feel our best basketball is still ahead of us,” Kelly said.
With some excellent performances against St. Scholastica, Sophomore Emma Kniefel who scored 14 points, First-year Morgan Kelly giving 13 points, and Senior Grace Benz showing out with 10 rebounds and eight points, and another victory over Hamline on Feb. 14, the Gusties seem more than prepared to show the MIAC playoffs what Gustie basketball looks like. The team wraps up the regular season by hosting Saint Benedict on Feb. 16 and then will have time to prepare from their recently rigorous game schedule before the playoffs are set to begin in St. Peter on Feb. 22.