Pipers fall to Gusties, still in playoff hunt

In the first half, after two Piper turnovers in the first 53 seconds of play, the Hamline University women’s basketball team regained composure and jumped out to an early eight point lead over the Gusties. Down 12-4 with 14:26 remaining in the half, Gustavus made their way back into the game, tying the Pipers at 14-14 thanks to Elise Biewen’s made free throw.

Turnovers continued to cost the Pipers as Gustavus took the lead at 14-16 with eight minutes remaining. The Gusties then extended their lead to 22-18 with five minutes remaining before Jessica Heinen (Jr., Spicer, Minn.) made two free throws and brought the Pipers with in three points at the end of the half. Hamline returned to the locker room trailing the Gusties 34-31.

The Pipers started the second half strong, tying the Gusties at 34 a piece thanks to a three-pointer by Krystal Tschumperlin (Jr., Watkins, Minn.). However, Piper turnovers persisted and the Pipers found themselves down 43-36, three minutes into the second half. The Pipers came with in two points after Mary Wilkowski scored two of her 15 game-high points, but wouldn’t come any closer. Gustavus pushed their lead up to ten points at 64-54 with six minutes to go. A last minute layup by Grace Weinreich (Jr., Wahkon, Minn.) finished the game, leaving the Pipers down by five at 68-63 as time expired.

Three Pipers reached double-digit points in the loss. First-year Mary Wilkowski (Savannah, Ga.) led the Pipers with 15 followed by Rochelle Sather (So., Andover, Minn.) and Heinen with 13 and 11, respectively. Shelby Hyllengren (Sr., Cannon Falls, Minn.) grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in her last game at Hutton Arena.

Gustavus was led by senior Jess Vadnais’s 22 points.

With the loss, Hamline is now 12-12, 9-12 in the MIAC and is still contention for the sixth and final playoff spot.

Gustavus improves to 17-7, 16-5 in the MIAC.