University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Green Bay
Golden Gopher Women's Basketball Improves to 8-0
12/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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The No. 9/8 Minnesota women's basketball team used its defense to turn a three-point halftime lead into a solid 75-55 victory in non-conference action versus Wisconsin-Green Bay in Williams Arena on Sunday. The Golden Gophers extended their season-opening winning streak to eight, while the Phoenix fell to 5-4.
Playing to the first time in two weeks and without senior forward Kadidja Andersson (home in Sweden after the death of her grandmother), the Gophers struggled in the first half on both ends of the court. Although Minnesota hit on 59 percent of their first-half shot attempts, the Gophers also turned the ball over 11 times. Couple the Gophers' miscues with the hot three-point shooting of Green Bay's Abby Schlarlow, who went 4-for-4 in the half and scored 16 points, and Minnesota found itself in a dogfight, up just 36-33 at intermission.
The Gophers settled into their game in the second half. They continued to shoot well from the floor (52 percent) and took care of the ball, committing just three turnovers in the final 20 minutes. The defensive intensity was improved as well as Minnesota limited Green Bay to just nine second-half baskets and 22 points while forcing 12 turnovers.
Minnesota closed the game on a 13-2 run in the final five minutes. The Phoenix' only points during the stretch were a pair of free throw by Tricia Grassell with 14 seconds remaining.
"We proved that we can win ugly," said Golden Gopher head coach Pam Borton. "We lacked intensity in the first half but played better in the second. The more physical and aggressive we play, the more we can try to wear a team down. That's how we play."
"We knew Schlarlow was a great shooter but we had better team defense in the second half," said Gopher forward Shannon Bolden, who drew the assignment of guarding Schlarlow.
Lindsay Whalen led the Gophers with 22 points, while dishing out eight assists. Janel McCarville tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 13 rebounds. She also collected four blocks and four steals. Also in double figures for Minnesota was freshman forward Jamie Broback, who added a career-high 11 points.
Wisconsin-Green Bay's Scharlow took game scoring honors with a career-high 26 points, including a 5-for-6 performance from long range.
Minnesota is off until Dec. 28, when the Golden Gophers face Georgia State in the Virginia Cavalier Cla
