The Minnesota women’s basketball team (16-1, 4-1 B1G) kept Rutgers (8-8, 0-5 B1G) to just 12.5 percent from beyond the arc in a 2-for-16 shooting performance on the way to a 76-50 win against the Scarlet Knights at home Wednesday night at Williams Arena.
The Golden Gophers had four players score in double figures, led by Amaya Battle, who had 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. McKenna Johnson added 15 points from the bench and Sophie Hart helped out with her second career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Minnesota took advantage of fantastic ball movement in Wednesday’s game, piling up 21 assists on 30 made field goals. Grace Grocholski’s eight assists led the distribution list for the Gophers.
Minnesota forced 13 Rutgers turnovers while committing 11 themselves in Wednesday’s game. The Maroon & Gold turned those takeaways into 20 points on the offensive end of the floor. Grocholski’s three steals led the way for Minnesota.
How It Happened
After falling behind 2-0, Minnesota went on an 8-0 run with 8:53 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Johnson, to take an 8-2 lead. The Gophers then added two points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 19-11 advantage. Minnesota did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 19 points close to the basket.
Minnesota built that first quarter lead to 26-17 before going on an 8-0 run starting at the 5:20 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Johnson, to increase its lead to 34-17. The Gophers proceeded to tack on one point to that lead and enjoyed a 41-23 advantage heading into halftime. Minnesota was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three three-point shots to account for nine of its 22 points.
After intermission, Minnesota held on to its advantage and owned a 55-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Minnesota took advantage of four Rutgers turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off of takeaways.
Minnesota started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on a 6-0 run to grow the lead to 61-37 with 7:27 to go in the contest. The Gophers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 76-50 win. Minnesota took advantage of three Rutgers turnovers in the quarter, scoring seven points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» Sophie Hart notched her second career double-double for the Gophers with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
» The Maroon & Gold held the Scarlet Knights to only 31.7 percent shooting from the field.
» The ‘U’ never trailed after taking a 19-11 first quarter lead.
» The Gophers put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 70 percent of made baskets.
» Minnesota had a great day defensively, holding Rutgers to 12 percent from three point land on 16 attempts.
» Minnesota had a 51-33 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Minnesota defense forced 13 turnovers.
» Minnesota cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 18 offensive boards in the game.
» Amaya Battle led the Gophers with 21 points.
» Minnesota got a team-high 11 rebounds from Sophie Hart.
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
