NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Senior Makenna Ash tallied her 11th double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but the St. Olaf College women's basketball team fell, 78-60, against Gustavus Adolphus College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) contest Wednesday evening at Skoglund Center.

Gustavus (10-8, 7-4 MIAC) shot 53.1 percent in the first half compared to 39.3 percent from St. Olaf (6-12, 3-8 MIAC), and the Gusties recorded 20 offensive points that turned into 16 second-chance points in the contest.

Ash led the Oles with 16 points and 10 rebounds, first year K'Lynn Lewis added 15 points, five assists and three rebounds and sophomore Keegan Mulvihill reached double figures with 14 points, five rebounds and three steals.

The Gusties jumped out to an early 9-2 lead after Maddie Wagner finished a three-point play at the 7:04 mark of the first quarter. In the next possession, Mulvihill found junior Ella Skrien behind the arc for a three-pointer. Gustavus answered with a 9-2 run before first year Sydney Beard finished a basket at the buzzer for the Oles to make the score 18-11 at the end of the period.

After a pair of free throws from Ava Gonsorowski, the Gusties stretched their lead to 10 in the second quarter with 6:28 to go, but Mulvihill finished a layup inside to bring St. Olaf back within seven at 4:28 in the period.

Gustavus took their largest lead of the half after Wagner sank a three-pointer to make the score 40-15.  The Oles would cut the deficit to 11 after Mulvihill sank a pair of free throws.

In the third period, the Gusties scored the first seven points, but the Oles responded with back-to-back baskets from Lewis and Mulvihill. After being done by 22, a Lewis layup brought St. Olaf back within 13, but a free throw from Justine Lee would give Gustavus a 63-47 lead heading into the final quarter.

A three-point play from Ash and a basket from Lewis cut the Oles deficit to 11 points with 5:37 remaining in the game, but that would be the closest they would get as the Gusties would lead by double figures for the remainder of the contest.

St. Olaf shot 43.4 percent from the floor in the game, including 57.1 percent shooting in the third quarter, compared to 41.3 percent shooting from Gustavus in the game.

The Oles are back to action on Saturday, Jan. 26 as they host St. Catherine for the second meeting of the season beginning at 1 p.m. at Skoglund Center.