University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Wisconsin
Whalen Leads Gopher Women's Basketball to Win at Wisconsin
2/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
- Click Here For Box Score
Lindsay Whalen scored 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead No. 14/13 Minnesota to a 59-48 victory over Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison on Sunday. The Golden Gophers improved to 17-3 overall and 6-3 in Big Ten play.
The Gophers used a last-second tip-in by Janel McCarville to end the first half to grab the momentum. The bucket capped off a 9-2 run to end the first half and gave Minnesota a 26-19 halftime lead.
Minnesota opened an 11-point lead early in the second half on back-to-back jumpers by Jamie Broback. A three-pointer by Wisconsin's Ashley Josephson ignited an 8-0 Badger rally that whittled the Minnesota lead to three points at 34-31 with 13:27 remaining.
A Whalen three-pointer quieted the crowd of 7,218 and halted the Wisconsin run. Whalen's fast-break lay-up off an assist by Shannon Schonrock two minutes later brought the Gophers' lead back into double digits. Wisconsin would not get closer than six points the rest of the way.
Behind 13 rebounds by McCarville, the Gophers mounted a 35-28 advantage in rebounding. A much-taller Badger squad was limited to just five offensive rebounds.
Minnesota took care of the ball in the second half committing five turnovers after turning the ball over nine costly times in the first half. Wisconsin (8-11, 2-7) held the advantage from the free throw line, making 12-of-15, while Minnesota made just 11 trips, making seven. The Gophers didn't make their first trip to the line until the 12:12 mark of the second half.
Schonrock was the only other Gopher in double figures with 10 points. McCarville only scored four points but added five steals in addition to her 13 rebounds.
Lello Gebisa tallied a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead Wisconsin.
"This was a great Big Ten basketball game," said Golden Gopher head coach Pam Borton. "I thought Wisconsin put together a 40-minute game plan, never gave up and played hard until the very end. I was very pleased with my team. We played a very poised second half."
Minnesota is off until Feb. 8, when the Gophers play host to Big Ten-leading Penn State
