Courtesy of Jordan Modjeski/

Gusties Athletics

BRUNSWICK, Maine – The dance goes on for No. 5 Gustavus women’s basketball, which advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in program history Friday evening, defeating McMurry (Texas) 71-58 on the campus of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. The Gusties (29-1, 17-1 MIAC) will face No. 8 Smith (Mass.).

“I thought we did a really good job scoring inside,” said Head Coach Laurie Kelly following the win. “I thought the advantage inside with Rachel [Kawiecki] and my daughter Morgan [Kelly] were really good for us in the first half, and we were able to score inside and dominate on the glass.”

And dominate they did, as Kelly’s two senior post players combined for 28 points and 13 rebounds, as Rachel Kawiecki (Richfield) and Morgan Kelly (Saint Peter) led the Gusties to victory and history at Morrell Gymnasium. Kawiecki collected a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double in the seventh national tournament game of her career, helping the Gusties to their first appearance in the NCAA Sectional Finals.

Deadlocked 31-31 at the half, the Gusties shot a combined 14 for 28 (50 percent) in the third and fourth quarters, getting eight fourth quarter points from Emma Kniefel (5th, Medford, Minn.), who has been clutch in the final frame through the tournament so far.

“When it comes to tournament time, I just find a little bit of attitude in me,” Kniefel said about her tournament performance thus far. “I’ve never really been like that, but for me to get on that level, I think I just really embrace it.”

Kawiecki got the team off to a hot start, scoring nearly half of her game total in the first quarter. The Richfield native scored the team’s first four points, and the Gusties never trailed after that mark, out-scoring the Warhawks in all but the second quarter.

Syd Hauger (Springfield, Minn.) sparked a 15-point scoring run for the Gusties out of the break, hitting a 3 in the third, which also sealed the fifth-year’s 1,000th career-point, becoming just one of 15 players in program history to reach the milestone.

The Gusties built their lead into double digits on a layup from Kniefel midway through the fourth, and increased it to as many as 13 three times, including the 71-58 final. Defense dominated the final two frames, with the Gusties holding McMurry (23-6, 14-3 SCAC) to shoot just 9 for 28 (32.1 percent) in the third and fourth quarters.

Gustavus made the difference on the glass, out-rebounding McMurry by a margin of 12, 41-29, including 9-5 in offensive rebounds, resulting in eight second chance points. Kelly and Kawiecki led the charge for 26 points in the paint, while five different Gusties hit a 3-pointer, including two out of the hands of Kylie Baranick (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.).

The Gusties finished 26 for 57 (45.6 percent) with four players in double digits. Kniefel finished with her third consecutive 20-point game, hauling in eight rebounds, four assists, and a pair of steals while shooting 7 for 14 and a perfect 5 for 5 from the line. Kawiecki went 7 for 11 (63.6 percent) with 10 boards, four of which came on the offensive end of the court. Kelly posted 13, while Hauger rounded out the top scorers with 12. Izzy Quick (5th, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) held McMurry’s Aryana Cleveland, who averages more than 10 points a game, scoreless in one of the top defensive performances of the game, finishing with four rebounds and a block in 22 minutes on the floor.

“We’ve never been here,” Kelly said. “The elation with these six seniors, they’ve been a part of our program and have been playing since they were freshmen. I just don’t want this dance to end. I enjoy every day I get to be with them, and grateful we get to continue this journey.”

The Gusties will play Smith (29-2, 11-0 NEWMAC) Saturday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. for a chance to advance to the Final Four.

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