University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
UNLV
Golden Gopher Women Defeat UNLV in NCAA First Round
3/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Whalen poured in 29 points, including 9-of-10 from the free throw line, but it was the Gopher post defense that that the tempo of the game. Kadidja Andersson and Janel McCarville shut down UNLV All-American Linda Frohlich, limiting the 6-2 senior to nine points, under half of her season average of 20.9 points per game. Frohlich was held scoreless in the second half and finished the game hitting just four of 14 field goals attempts. The 54 points scored by the Lady Rebels was also the best defensive effort of the season for the Gophers.
"It was great to see the teamwork displayed by this team tonight," said Minnesota head coach Brenda Oldfield. "We were ready to go for 40 minutes tonight and once we got the lead, we never looked back. We played inspired team basketball and that's what it's all about. That's been this team's trademark from day one."
Andersson scored the game's first bucket on a layup and the Gophers never trailed. The score was tied at 6-6 before Minnesota scored eight consecutive points and never looked back. The Gophers grabbed a 29-13 lead on an Ebba Hemberg jumper followed by a Frohlich three-pointer, her fine points of the game with 9:20 left in the first half. Minnesota went on to take a 37-24 halftime lead.
Minnesota's lead was never seriously threatened in the second half. A three-pointer by Lindsay Lieser, her fourth of the game, game the Gophers their biggest lead of the game at 54-32 with 10:29 to play. All 12 Golden Gophers in uniform got into the ballgame in the waning minutes.
