Amaya Battle and Annika Stewart combined to score 41 total points, but the Golden Gophers (17-3, 5-3 B1G) fell to the Michigan Wolverines (14-5, 5-3 B1G) 70-65 at home Wednesday. evening.
Battle led the Gophers with 25 points, six rebounds and six steals. Stewart added 16 points, two steals and two blocks off the bench and Grace Grocholski helped out with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Minnesota collected 37 rebounds in Wednesday’s game compared to Michigan’s 36, led by seven boards from Mallory Heyer. The Maroon & Gold also put in work on the offensive glass, turning 13 rebounds into four second chance points.
Minnesota forced 17 Michigan turnovers while committing 11 themselves in Wednesday’s game. The Gophers turned those takeaways into 17 points on the offensive end of the floor. Battle’s six steals led the way for Minnesota.
How It Happened
After falling behind 13-9, Minnesota went on a 6-0 run with 4:54 left in the first quarter to take a 15-13 lead. The Gophers then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down 26-22.
Michigan kept adding to that lead, building a 33-28 advantage before Minnesota went on a 9-0 run to take a 37-33 lead, a score that would hold until halftime. Minnesota was strong from deep in the period, knocking down two three-point shots to account for six of its 15 points.
Michigan then took a 50-46 lead following intermission before Minnesota went on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a three from Grocholski, to grab a 54-50 lead with 1:05 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Wolverines had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Gophers still entered the fourth quarter with a 54-53 edge.
Michigan then erased the Minnesota lead in the game’s final quarter for a 70-65 comeback victory. Minnesota got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring three of its 11 total points.
Game Notes
» Battle, Stewart, and Grocholski combined to account for 82 percent of the Gophers points.
» Minnesota lost despite a 37-36 rebounding advantage.
» The Minnesota defense forced 17 turnovers.
» Minnesota cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
» Battle led the Gophers with a game-high 25 points.
» Minnesota got a team-high seven rebounds from Heyer.
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
