The Minnesota women’s basketball team (7-0, 0-0 Big Ten) saw all five starters score at least 10 points and defeated the Montana Grizzlies (3-3, 0-0 Big Sky) 84-45 at home on Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Gophers (7-0) had five players score in double figures, led by Sophie Hart, who had 16 points and four assists. Grace Grocholski tacked on 14 points and two steals and Amaya Battle helped out with 14 points, eight assists and two steals.
Minnesota shared the ball well in Sunday’s game, racking up 24 assists on 30 made field goals. Battle’s eight assists paced the Golden Gophers. Minnesota’s defense held Montana to only 25.5 percent shooting from the field, including 22.6 percent from beyond the arc. The Gophers also limited Adria Lincoln to 3-of-12 shooting and 10 points in the game. The Grizzlies did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with nine offensive rebounds and managed one second chance points while Minnesota cleared 34 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 4-2 advantage, Minnesota went on a 13-0 run with 6:54 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Hart, to increase its lead to 17-2. The Gophers then added seven points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 29-7 advantage. Minnesota capitalized on five Montana turnovers in the period, turning them into nine points on the other end of the floor.
Minnesota built that first quarter lead to 32-8 before going on a 10-0 run starting at the 8:06 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from Battle, to increase its lead to 42-8. The Grizzlies cut into that lead, but the Gophers still enjoyed a 52-22 advantage heading into halftime. Minnesota was strong from deep in the period, knocking down five three-point shots to account for 15 of its 23 points.
Minnesota continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a three from Battle, to expand its lead further to 63-28 with 5:24 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Grizzlies had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Gophers still entered the fourth quarter with a 67-36 edge. Minnesota played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 15 points in the paint.
Minnesota kept widening that lead, expanding it to 77-44 before going on a 7-0 run to grow the lead to 84-44 with 21 seconds to go in the contest. The Grizzlies narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Gophers still cruised the rest of the way for the 84-45 win. Minnesota fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 17 points.
Game Notes
» Minnesota lit it up from beyond the arc, knocking down 11 treys in the game.
» The Gophers held the Grizzlies to only 25.5 percent shooting from the field.
» The Gophers never trailed after taking a 29-7 first quarter lead.
» The Gophers shared the ball well, recording an assist on 80 percent of made baskets.
» Every Minnesota starter scored in double figures.
» Five Minnesota players scored 10 or more points.
» Minnesota had a 55-35 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Minnesota defense forced 16 turnovers.
» Minnesota turned the ball over seven times while dishing out 24 assists.
» Minnesota cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 21 offensive boards in the game.
» Sophie Hart led the Gophers with a game-high 16 points.
» Minnesota got a game-high 9 rebounds from Mallory Heyer.
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
