University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Northwestern
Minnesota Defeats Northwestern 71-33 In Regular Season Finale
2/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota took the lead early, and built a double-digit lead at 11-1 just four minutes, 13 seconds into the game. The Gophers continued to build their lead, going up by 17 points at 18-1 on a Jamie Broback lay up with 11 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the half. Northwestern scored its first field goal of the game on a jumper by Julie Bielawski with just over 11 minutes to play in the period.
Kelly Roysland scored again, to bring the lead back to 17 points at 20-3. Wildcat Kristin Cartwright sunk a three-pointer to cut Minnesota’s lead to 14 points at 20-6. The Gophers responded by scoring seven unanswered points to increase their lead to 21 points at 27-6. Minnesota had its biggest lead of the half, 22 points, at 31-9 with six minutes, 20 seconds on the clock.
At halftime, Minnesota led 36-16. Although Minnesota was shooting below its season average from the field (44.1 percent) at 38.2 percent, Northwestern was 4-21 from the field in the first half, making just 19.0 percent of its shots. Six of the Wildcats’ 16 first- half points came on free throws.
Roysland led all scorers at the half with eight points, and led all players in rebounds with five.
Minnesota outscored Northwestern 27-12 to start the second half to build a 35-point lead at 63-28 with just under eight minutes to play. Northwestern scored three points to cut Minnesota’s lead to 32 points at 63031 on a jumper by A.J. Glasauer, her only basket of the game.
Minnesota scored eight unanswered points to build its biggest lead of the game, 40 points, at 71-31 with 42 second left to play. Ifeoma Ikonkwo scored two free throws in the last minute to bring the score to 71-33.
Minnesota’s shooting percentage improved to 48.1 percent for the second half. For the game, the Gophers went 26-61 (42.6 percent). Northwestern also improved its shooting percentage for the second half, going 6-26 in the second period (23.1 percent), and finished 10-47 for the game (21.3).
Minnesota dominated in the paint, out-rebounding Northwestern 50-28 in the game, and outscoring the Wildcats 36-6 in the paint. Northwestern tallied 24 turnovers, allowing the Gophers 34 points off turnovers. The Wildcats scored just six points off turnovers.
Northwestern’s Okonkwo led all scorers in the game with 12 points. Melissa Miller led Northwestern in rebounding with five.
Thirteen players scored points in the victory, led by Roysland with 11. Calhoun was the only other Gopher in double digits with 10 points. Roysland also led the team in rebounding with seven. Collison scored her first points of the season, earning three points. Collison also set a career-high playing 15 minutes in the contest.
Minnesota is next in action at the Big Ten Tournament, which will take place March 2-6 in Indianapolis, Ind. The Gophers have earned the No. 3 seed, and will face the winner of Thursday's game between No. 6 seed Indiana and No. 11 seed Michigan. Minnesota's game will take place on Friday evening, 25 minutes after the completion of the game that starts at 6 p.m.
