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| Mikayla Miller and her teammates have the Golden Gusties climbing up the national rankings. AJ Dahm, SPX Sports |
Ted Riverso wasn't supposed to get Laurie (Trow) Kelly's commitment.
Laurie Kelly wasn't supposed to get Mikayla Miller's commitment.
They were players with Division I ability. They are the kind of players that change programs and leave legacies in Division III.
Kelly was a three-time MIAC MVP and 1992-93 National Player of the Year under Riverso at St. Thomas, which won the 1991 national championship.
She took the job at Gustavus Adolphus in 2012 after stops at Division I Binghamton and Northern Arizona and sought advice from her college coach, then an assistant at the University of Minnesota before rejoining the MIAC as Augsburg head coach last season.
"He told me you need to get players you're not supposed to get," Kelly said. "He always said, 'you were a player I shouldn't have got.' We needed that."
Kelly's first recruit in that category came in 2014, when Miller, a 5-8 point guard chose Gustavus. At the time, the Golden Gusties were 29-23 in Kelly's first two seasons.
"She's somebody we began three years ago, building our program around," Kelly said.
That program continues to ascend, from 17-9 Miller's freshman year, to 20-7 and now an already historic season.
Gustavus is 17-0 – its best start ever – and ranked 19th nationally entering the week.
"I think what makes her special is she had that kind of role at a very successful high school program in Goodhue (Minn.)," Kelly said. "And she kind of took that role, even as a freshman in our program. She is a competitor. Everyone wants to win, but there's always those kids that have an edge. She has an edge to compete."
Miller hasn't missed a start in her two-plus years and has already scored 1,162 points, but this isn't a one-woman team.
Miranda Rice, in particular, has seen her production skyrocket. The 5-11 junior forward is averaging 17.4 points, just shy of Miller's 17.8. She gives Gustavus an inside-out balance after averaging 9.2 points last season.
Kelly and Rice both credited extra work in the summer. Rice has upped her field-goal percentage from 52.9 to 60.5, and continued to shoot well from the free-throw line, hitting 79.1 percent this season.
"I work with a trainer in the offseason. He's really helped me a lot with form," Rice said. "Just getting in the gym in the offseason is the most important part that's helped me through the years."
Rice's usage rate of 31.4 is up from 25.0 last year and now close to Miller's 33.0.
This was a team with high expectations entering the season, considering only one of its top six scorers – Lindsey Johnson (10.9) graduated. Captain Hannah Howard returned and sophomore Justine Lee is also a regular starter.
That experience is evident statistically in an offense rating (points per 100 possessions) that's climbed from 97.9 a year ago to 111.8 this season.
The Gusties play an aggressive man-to-man defense and like to create transition opportunities. Furthermore, they're second in the nation with a 79.1 free-throw percentage that matches Rice's individual mark.
"I see (the experience) so many places," Kelly said. "Just maturity, in training, understanding the college game, and really the familiarity of our league."
"I think their roles are more defined the longer they've been in your program. They understand your system on both ends of the floor."
The ultimate test awaits next Wednesday with Gustavus' only game against No. 3 and fellow unbeaten St. Thomas this year.
Of course, both teams have two games to win this week to make that a battle of unbeatens, but either way, there will be plenty of hype.
"Of course (we look at St. Thomas)," Rice said. "That's just been something that we've been thinking about this whole season. But at the same time, each game is one stepping stone to getting to St. Thomas and getting better each time so that when we do see St. Thomas we're prepared and we're ready."
After each win, someone on the team writes the updated record on a locker room whiteboard. It started at 1-0. How long can the 0 stay there?
"After every game, I say we need to enjoy this," Kelly said. "That was advice I got from Ted Riverso, who won so many championships. He's like, sometimes you start feeling pressure as a coach, and you forget to step back and really enjoy the ride. I've really taken that to heart."
MIAC Madness
It may not look it with two undefeated programs at the top, but the MIAC is showing more and more parity as the weeks go on.
Carleton has won four of its last five games following a 1-11 start, including Saturday's come-from-behind 59-57 triumph against St. Benedict.
The Knights went on a 20-1 run to start the fourth quarter after trailing 46-33, then won it on Katie Chavez's two free throws with 5.5 seconds to play.
"This energy bus is on the right path," Carleton head coach Cassie Kosiba told sports information following Wednesday's win over St. Olaf. "We are sharing the ball and playing for each other. The success we've had the past couple weeks is a direct result of everyone staying focused on the details and the journey, rather than the final score."
Carleton is now 3-7 in the league, two games back of St. Catherine for the last playoff spot. At 5-12 overall, it's surpassed last year's 4-21 season. The Kinghts were just 1-17 in the MIAC a season ago.
"Every time we step on the court, I really feel like, if you're not ready, people can steal a game from you," Gustavus coach Laurie Kelly said. "We don't want that to be us."
Gustavus has Concordia away and St. Mary's at home this week. St. Thomas hosts Macalester and travels to St. Benedict.
Men's performers of the week
Collin Olmscheid put up 43 points for Augsburg in Wednesday's 89-86 win over Macalester. He made 11 of 16 shots, including a 5-for-6 mark from 3-point range. That performance came just four days after Macalester's Michael Gutierrez went for 40 in a loss to Hamline.
And speaking of Macalester, Kareem Ismail's career-high 34 points led the Scots to a 95-91 double-overtime victory over Gustavus on Saturday. In that same game, Gustavus' Riley Sharbono had 32 points and forced OT with a layup with 37 seconds remaining.
It was a week for 40-point scorers. Whitman's Tim Howell hit 40 as the No. 2 Blues beat George Fox 95-80 in a game that was moved from Friday to Sunday. Howell made 16 of 22 field-goal attempts.
Dan Campion's career-high 28 points and four assists helped Northland beat Minnesota Morris 84-77 Friday. Campion made 6 of 8 3-pointers.
Anyone who read this column last week will like this one: Josh Ruggles had 27 points for Loras in a crosstown rivalry win over Dubuque on Saturday, hitting five 3s in a 87-58 victory. The Duhawks have now won 11 in a row, getting 27 points from Ryan DiCanio and a buzzer-beating 3 from Matt Dacy-Seijo in Wednesday's 92-89 victory at Nebraska Wesleyan.
Nate Schimonitz set a Nebraska Wesleyan freshman record with 34 points Monday at Central. He was 13 of 18 from the field in a 93-86 win, following up a 27-point, 8-rebound performance in Saturday's 98-85 win over Wartburg.
Women's performers of the week
Cyerra Hutchins' career-high 29 points on 11 of 14 shooting led Loras to a 95-66 win over city foe Dubuque. Additionally, Lori Obendorf averaged 21.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in the Duhawks' two wins last week.
Dubuque bounced back Monday when Emily Brinker poured in 30 points and Ali Roach hit a free throw with 6.1 seconds left to beat second-place Luther, 81-80.
Northwestern went on a 16-2 run in the final seven minutes Friday to beat St. Scholastica 64-61. The Eagles were powered by Amy Berglund's 23 points on 10-for-13 shooting, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
In Cal Lutheran's first win over CMS since the 2012-13 season, Haley Hodgson had 15 points and 17 rebounds. Jessica Salottolo pumped in a career-high 25 points as the Athenas edged Redlands 87-86 Monday.
Ayisat Afolabi led Lewis and Clark to a 79-79 upset of then-No. 18 Whitman on Saturday with 27 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. Afolabi was 9 of 18 from the field, 8 of 11 from the free-throw line and hit her fourth 3-pointer all season.
Hidden gem of the week
It pays to stay the course. Brenden McCullough's game-winning layup with 6.5 seconds left Saturday against Pacific were his only points of the game. Willamette's 70-69 win was its first in Northwest Conference play this season.
