University of Minnesota Athletics
WBB: Minnesota Defeats North Dakota 75-47 in Exhibition
11/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Sophomore center Liz Podominick scored 11 of Minnesota's first 13 points and finished with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead the Golden Gopher women's basketball team to a 75-47 victory over North Dakota in exhibition action at Williams Arena on Sunday.
Podominick, who has started both exhibition games in place of injured All-American Janel McCarville, has made the most of her starting assignments gathering double-doubles in both Minnesota's exhibition victories.
"We improved from our first exhibition game last Wednesday to this afternoon's game but we have plenty of things to work on before we tip it off for real next weekend," said Golden Gopher head coach Pam Borton. "We need to work on our rebounding and reducing turnovers. There were also a lot of positive stretches in the game for us as well. Our post players have been gaining invaluable experience while Janel's been out."
The Gophers needed Podominick's presence early as North Dakota, ranked No. 7 in the preseason NCAA Division II poll, hung with Minnesota in the first half. North Dakota crashed the boards and collected 10 first-half offensive rebounds but was only able to drop in one second-chance bucket. A Kelly Roysland buzzer-beater to end the half gave Minnesota a 32-23 lead at intermission.
Sophomore forward Jamie Broback scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half as the Gophers took control of the ballgame. The Gophers pulled away steadily throughout the season half. Freshman Lauren Lacey came off the bench and went 3-for-3 from the field. Shannon Schonrock nailed a pair of three-point field goals for her only baskets of the game. The Gophers shot 51.7 percent in the second half and outrebounded North Dakota by a 21-18 margin.
Minnesota finished with four players in double figures scoring. Joining Podominick and Broback in double digits were Royland with 11 and Lacey with 10. The starting backcourt of Schonrock and April Calhoun combined for 15 and 12 assists while turning the ball over just twice. Calhoun also collected six steals and forced several other North Dakota turnovers with her defensive pressure.
The Gophers open their regular-season schedule in the WBCA Classic in Seattle versus UNLV next Sunday, Nov. 14.
