Gophers Rally for Subway Classic Title

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Jan 25

2:00 PM

Women's Basketball

vs Wisconsin

Jan 28

5:00 PM

Women's Basketball

at Penn State

Feb 1

2:00 PM

Women's Basketball

vs Purdue

Minnesota used a late 21-4 run to overcome a 12-point deficit in the final eight minutes and capture the Subway Classic title with a 74-69 win over nationally-ranked Louisville on Sunday at Williams Arena. Emily Fox scored 23 points in the title game and was named tournament Most Valuable Player.

Minnesota improved to 4-0 for the season and won the Subway Classic for the seventh time in eight seasons. Louisville, which entered the weekend ranked 22nd

by the Associated Press and 21st in the USA Today Coaches' poll, lost both games in the tournament to fall to 1-2 overall.

With 7:30 remaining in the second half the Gophers were down 62-50, before they surged to earn the victory. The Gophers were led by Fox's nine points down the stretch and some timely shooting from Fox and Brittany McCoy. The pair hit back-to-back three-pointers to pull the Gophers within 64-61 with 5:09 left. Fox hit another three-pointer to tie the game at 66-66. The Gophers took the lead when Ashley Ellis-Milan made one of two free throws. McCoy added another basket for a three-point lead with 1:13 left and Fox made three of four free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

Fox was eight-for-16 from the floor and three-for-five from three-point range. She sat out much of the second half after picking up her fourth foul with 18:40 left.

Minnesota overcame an outstanding performance from Louisville preseason All-American Angel McCoughtry, who finished with 39 points and 12 rebounds. She scored all 10 points over a 4:30 span during the Cardinals' 10-4 second-half run that gave them a 51-41 lead with 11:22 remaining.

It was one of two big runs for the Cardinals, who opened the game with a 15-2 run that saw Minnesota miss eight of its first nine shots. The Gophers clawed back and took their only lead of the first half on a Korinne Campbell layup with 3:08 left to cap a 14-2 spurt. Louisville closed the half with a basket by Keshia Hines at the buzzer for a 35-32 halftime lead.

Louisville outrebounded the Gophers 43-32, but was hurt by 26 turnovers, including a stretch four out of five possessions in the final four minutes of the game.

Ellis-Milan finished with 15 points, including 10 in the second half for Minnesota to join Fox on the all-tournament team. Campbell had 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds with four blocked shots. Leslie Knight had nine points and eight assists. The Gophers shot 42.4 percent (25-for-59) from the field.

Louisville's Candyce Bingham contributed 11 points before fouling out with 6:03 remaining. She combined with McCoughtry to score 26 of the team's first 28 points.

The Cardinals shot 43.8 percent (28-for-64) from the field. Louisville's Patrika Barlow had six assists and was named to the all-tournament team along with McCoughtry. Western Carolina's Ashley Pellom and Brooke Johnson were also selected to the six-player squad.

Minnesota plays its third game in a span of 10 days on Tuesday, Nov. 20, when the Golden Gophers play host to North Dakota State at 7 p.m.

Louisville Coach Jeff Walz Quotes

On team's overall play:

"We had some defensive breakdowns. We took a ten or eleven point lead and I think we got caught up in how we got that lead."

On Angel McCoughtry's play:

"She played extremely well tonight. I think everyone was able to see how quick she is with the ball."

On Emily Fox's play:

"Fox is a great player. She runs the team extremely well, she is just a solid player. Everyone else for them are hard-working blue collar kids."

Angel McCoughtry Quotes:

On team's overall play:

"We got a young team and I'm going to continue to try to lead them and I hope this is something we can learn from."

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Players Mentioned

Ashley Ellis-Milan

Emily Fox

Leslie Knight

Brittany McCoy

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