University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Creighton
Minnesota Rolls to Victory Over Creighton
11/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Three players recorded double-doubles as Minnesota rolled to a 75-55 victory over Creighton on Wednesday at Williams Arena. The Golden Gopher improved to 4-1 on the season.
Gophers frontcourt players Korinne Campbell (11 points and 13 rebounds), Ashley Ellis-Milan (10 points and 12 rebounds) and Leslie Knight (10 points and 11 rebounds) all recorded the first double-doubles of their careers. It is the first time in Minnesota history that three players recorded this feat in the same game.
Campbell was an especially effective presence in the paint, with nine offensive rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
Sophomore point guard Emily Fox added a career-high 19 points and four assists, while senior Kelly Roysland had 12 points and three assists.
The Gophers jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead in the first five minutes, capped by two free throws from Brittany McCoy. The lead stretched to 25-12 with 6:26 remaining in the half after a basket in the paint from Ellis-Milan.
Michelle Kaus, who scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Bluejays, tied the game at 28-28 with seconds left in the first half. On the next play, Fox was fouled and made one of two free throws to give Minnesota a 29-28 lead at the break.
Creighton (0-4) tied the score one more time early in the second half but was never able to grab a lead. The Gophers used a 15-0 run midway through the period to take control of the game and take a game-high 19-point lead at 54-35 with 11:16 remaining. Campbell sparked the run with five points, five rebounds and several blocks.
The Bluejays closed to within 10 points twice but was unable to break the deficit into single figures. The 20-point margin of victory was the Gophers’ largest lead of the game.
Minnesota grabbed an impressive 30 offensive rebounds in the game, equaling the total rebounds Creighton collected as a team.
Minnesota travels to Flagstaff, Ariz., to compete in the Northern Arizona Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 24-25. The Gophers play Wisconsin-Green Bay on Friday at 5:30 p.m. (CT).
Minnesota 75, Creighton 55
Nov. 22, 2006
Minneapolis, Minn. (Williams Arena)
Game Notes
Series Notes
ß Minnesota now leads Creighton in their all-time series 5-0, which includes four games played in Minneapolis.
Team Notes
ß This evening's game marked the end of a season-long five-game homestand for the Gophers.
ß Pam Borton is now just one game away from collecting her 100th career victory as coach of the Golden Gophers. Borton's 99 career victories are the second most coaching wins at Minnesota, trailing only Ellen Mosher-Hanson's 172 wins.
ß The Gophers are now 27-2 in non-conference games played at Williams Arena during Borton's tenure.
ß The Gophers limited the Blue Jays to 55 points, the fewest of any Gopher opponent this season.
ß Five players finished in double figures for the second time this season
Individual notes
ß Freshman Korinne Campbell notched the first double-double of her career after pulling down a game-high 13 boards and matching a season- and career high with 11 points.
ß Campbell ahad a season- and career-high 3 steals.
ß Sophomore Emily Fox led the team with 19 points, which set season and career bests.
ß For the fourth time in five games this season, Fox scored in double figures.
ß Leslie Knight recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
ß Freshman Ashley Ellis-Milan started her second career game and responded by posting career and season bests with 10 points and 12 rebounds, which marked her first career double-double.
ß Kelly Roysland has now scored in double figures each game this season after scoring 12 this evening.
ß Roysland is shooting 50% (10-20) from 3-point range this season.
ß Jordan Barnes logged a career-high 11 minutes and tallied her first career field goal in the second half.
Game Quotes
Minnesota Head Coach Pam Borton
I thought the second half was a better half for our team. We were a runaway train in the first half with our offense and we were not making a lot of good decisions. Second half we really got them in the half court box, made some great stops and only gave them one shot, which allowed us to execute a lot better offensively. I thought that missing Kelly in the first half with her two fouls; in the second half she brought us a lot of leadership and the calmness we needed to really settle us down.
On searching for energy:
I do not know if we were searching for energy, but maybe searching for a little bit of discipline out there. I can’t remember in the first half if we even made a play because we were making so many bad decisions on the transition. I think once we slowed down and settled ourselves down we looked like a much better basketball team.
Kelly Roysland
On Creighton’s number 12 and 22:
We knew 12 was a good 3 point shooter. With 22 coming off the bench and she’s a Minnesota kid so she probably wanted to play well. Our main focus was on number 12 and knowing where she was at all times. However, I thought we did a good job in the second half of containing number 22.
Korinne Campbell
On her rebounding:
I feel that since my teammates are helping me out just having Zoe or Ashley in there, that presence to rebound is really helpful. I know that if I don’t get the rebound Ashley is going to get the rebound and vice versa. I feel that we have a lot of good chemistry on the floor and it just is helping everyone out.
On her energy on the floor:
I feel like the energy came at just the right moment. They just fed off my energy and everyone was riled up. My energy was really good, but I’m still not there yet. I’m going stay energetic and keep motivating my team.
Creighton Head Coach:Jim Flannery
Well I don’t think you have to be a basketball genius to know what the difference in tonight’s game was. As simple as I can put it, the difference in the game was that they [Minnesota] were a lot more physical and they did a really good job of moving the ball in the second half. When you make defense moves side to side and guard for a little bit longer, it does open up opportunities for offensive rebounds. The thing I kept stressing to our kids is we have to block out those first shots. Once they miss that first shot, if they get that second shot then they are already under the rim. That’s where the difference in how physical they were over us. We were not going to get that third or fourth shot.
