University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Ohio State
Janel McCarville Posts Triple-Double in Gopher Loss in Big Ten Tourney
3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Janel McCarville posted a triple-double scoring 23 points, pulling down 11 rebounds and snaring 10 steals but No. 18 Minnesota was eliminated by No. 22 Ohio State, 58-50, in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis on Friday. McCarville's feat is the first in 20 years and just the third in Gopher women's basketball history.
From the opening tip, the game was obviously one in which each and every possession would be of utmost importance. Minnesota held the lead just five times the last at 16-14 on a McCarville jumper with 8:27 left in the first half. Ohio State's Caity Matter scored the next six points on a pair of three-pointers to give the Buckeyes the lead what would turn out to be for the remainder of the game. Those six points kicked off an important 13-4 run to end the half as Ohio State built a 27-20 lead at intermission.
The Gophers were held scoreless over the final 3:55 of the half, missing their last six shots and turning the ball over three times.
McCarville scored the first four points of the second half to cut the deficit to three points. Minnesota would close to within three points several times in the second half but could never get closer. The last time closed the gap to three was at the 6:50 point when Kadidja Andersson tossed in a mid-range jumper in the lane. On the next Buckeye possession, McCarville grabbed a steal but the Gophers turned the ball over. Ohio State answered with a Jessica Davenport lay-up to halt the rally.
Ohio State's leading scorer Caity Matter came through for her team in the stretch run of the game. Each time the Gophers seemed poised to make a comeback, Matter either hit a big basket or drained a couple free throws. Matter, who led the Buckeyes with 24 points, scored nine of Ohio State's final 11 points.
Joining McCarville in double figures for the Gophers was Andersson with 10 points. Minnesota dominated the glass, outrebounding Ohio State by a 36-19 margin, but the Buckeye made up for it by shooting 53.7 percent from the floor.
In addition to her triple-double, McCarville also led the team with six assists. The other triple-doubles in Gophers' history were Carol Peterka (32 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) versus Michigan on March 4, 1984, and Debbie Hunter (21 points, 10 assists, 12 steals) against Northwestern on Jan. 31, 1981.
Minnesota will find out its NCAA Tournament fate on March 14 when the 64-team field is announced. The Gophers will play host to the First and Second Rounds of the tourney on March 21 and 23 in Williams Arena.
