While the Baker University women’s basketball team lost to Kansas Wesleyan University 80-75 Tuesday in Collins Center, the game was a person victory for senior Aubree Gustin.
Gustin’s 13 points were special for her. When the game started, Gustin was just five points shy of having 1,000 points for her career as a basketball player at Baker University. She scored her 1,000th point on a free throw, which also made her nervous for her next shot.
“I was shooting my free throws when it came over the intercom, so I was just like, I hope I don’t miss this free throw right now,” Gustin said.
The Wildcats played a close game against Kansas Wesleyan, losing only by five points.
“We’ve got to execute better, and cut out on our turnovers,” head coach Susan Decker said. “Those two things make a big difference in how things turn out.”
Hines had 21 points, including three of four from 3-point range, during the game followed by Gibson with 19 points and Gustin with 13 points.
The team’s free throws were strong Tuesday, with Gibson completing all 13 of her free throws, as well as Robinson shooting 4-5 and Gustin 4-4.
“We have certain goals that we set before each game and one of our goals is to make more free throws than the other team shoots, and (Tuesday night) we shot 89 percent from the free-throw line,” Gustin said.
Baker also played in the Park Classic and beat Ottawa University 64-38 Nov. 12, however, the team lost to Park University in overtime Saturday.
Senior Brittany Hines led the team against Ottawa with 16 points, and was followed by senior Aubree Gustin, who recorded a double-double, with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Baker got out to an early lead and never looked back, leading 36-16 at halftime.
The Wildcats forced Ottawa to commit 28 turnovers and shoot just 25 percent from the field and nine percent from behind the arc.
Against Park, the Wildcats trailed 34-13 at halftime, before outscoring Park 38-17 in the second half to send the game to overtime.
Senior Emily Gibson had 20 points and eight rebounds, while Brittany Hines had 15 points. The game went into overtime with the score at 51-51, but Baker couldn’t take the lead and lost 62-59.
The Wildcats outshot Park from the field, 40 percent to 29 percent, but Park outrebounded Baker 54-37, including 25 offensive rebounds.
“We haven’t been playing the basketball that we are capable of and we haven’t been able to produce at crucial times,” senior JaNeil Robinson said.
Despite the losses, Robinson thinks with everyone on the team showing up and doing their part, the team will bounce back.
“I know that once conference time comes around, we’ll lock down and I have confidence in the team that we can do it,” Robinson said.
The Wildcats play William Woods University at 2 p.m. Saturday in Collins Center and Tabor College at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Collins Center.
