The Gustavus women's basketball team came away with a thrilling 67-58 double-overtime victory over St. Olaf on Monday night in Northfield, Minn. Following a game-tying layup (55-55) by Erin Haglund with less than :10 seconds left in the first overtime period, Gustavus took control in the second overtime session, outscoring the Oles 12-3 on their way to a nine-point victory. Ava Perry led all scorers with a season-high 15 points, going 4-9 from the field and 3-6 from behind the arc.
Junior Ava Perry led the way with a game-high 15 points.
With the victory, Gustavus improves to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the MIAC. St. Olaf falls to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the MIAC.
Gustavus led by as many 15 points in the first half, shooting 44 percent (11-25) from the field in the frame. The Oles shot 36.4 percent (8-22), using a 14-6 run late in the period to cut the lead to six points (32-26) at halftime.
The Oles would slowly chip away at the Gustavus lead in the second half, tying the game at 47-47 at the 6:02 mark and taking the lead (49-47) on a jumper by Eileen O'Donoghue with 3:29 remaining. A pair of free throws by Perry with just over a minute to play in regulation put Gustavus up 51-50, yet Haglund sent the game into overtime with a free throw :51 seconds left. Gustavus was a cold 3-24 (12.5%) from the field in the second half, while St. Olaf was 7-17 (41.2%).
Both squads had trouble scoring before Haglund's game-tying layup at the buzzer of the first overtime. The Gusties and Oles each scored four points, sending the game into another overtime period with the score knotted at 55-55.
Gustavus went 2-3 from the field and 7-10 from the free throw line in the second overtime, as five different Gusties scored in the final five minutes.
Three Gustauvs players finished in double-figures on the night. Ava Perry led with 15 points, while Molly Geske and Molly Mathiowetz each scored 13. Geske was a perfect 8-8 at the free throw line, while Mathiowetz brought down a game-high eight rebounds.
Gustavus narrowly outshot St. Olaf 31.5 percent (17-54) to 30.9 percent (17-55) in the game. The Gusties won the turnover battle 20-33, yet St. Olaf out-rebounded Gustavus 51-36. St. Olaf was just 2-16 from the field and 3-8 from the line in both overtimes.
The Gustavus women's basketball team will play host to Macalester on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in St. Peter, Minn.