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Gusties, Cobbers set for championship rematch in MIAC Women's Basketball Playoffs – MIAC
Women’s Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The 2024 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Women’s Basketball Playoffs continued on Thursday night with two semifinal matchups.
Top-seeded Gustavus cruised to a 68-45 home victory over No. 5 Saint Benedict, while No. 2 Concordia defeated No. 3 St. Catherine, 80-71 in the other semifinal matchup. The Gusties and Cobbers will now meet in the MIAC Women’s Basketball Playoff Championship game for the second straight season, with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m. in St. Peter on Saturday.
NO. 1 GUSTAVUS 68, NO. 5 SAINT BENEDICT 45 | Box Score |
Emma Kniefel led a trio of Gusties in double figures as top-seeded Gusties punched its ticket back to the playoff championship with a 68-45 victory over Saint Benedict on Thursday night. Kniefel scored 18 points and dished out seven assists to go along with six rebounds and four steals in the win. Syd Hauger shot 70 percent from the field (7-for-10) while contributing another 15 points for Gustavus. Lydia Hay was the Bennies’ leading scorer with 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting. The Gusties led from start to finish, posting 46 of their 68 points in the first half and holding CSB to a field goal percentage of 32.7 in the game.
NO. 2 CONCORDIA 80, NO. 3 ST. CATHERINE 71 | Box Score |
Four Cobbers in double figures and a season-best 30 free throw conversions led Concordia back to the MIAC playoff title game for the second straight season following an 80-71 victory over St. Catherine on Thursday night. Makayla Anderson and Carlee Sieben each shot 6-for-12 from the field for the Cobbers, scoring 19 and 16 points, respectively. Sieben was 4-for-5 from long range, while Anderson was 7-for-8 from the line. Greta Schimnowski led the Wildcats with 19 points, including 15 on three-balls.
PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR SUNDAY
No. 1 Gustavus is now set to host No. 2 Concordia in the MIAC Playoff Championship Game on Saturday, February 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The MIAC Playoff champion will receive the postseason championship plaque and the conference’s automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The Gusties will be making their eighth appearance in the MIAC Playoff Championship and hosting the game for the second straight season. Gustavus is looking for its third consecutive MIAC Playoff title. The Cobbers will be making their seventh championship game appearance and second in as many seasons. Concordia previously won playoff titles in 2006 and 2011.
The two squads split their regular season series with each team claiming a win on their own home court. Gustavus holds a 4-2 all-time advantage over Concordia in the MIAC Playoffs, including a win in last year’s title game.
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