University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, February 22
Williams Arena
University of Minnesota
66
vs
53
Michigan
Gophers Beat Michigan in Williams Arena Finale
2/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota’s women’s basketball team forced 25 Michigan turnovers to its 12 in defeating the Wolverines 66-53 in the final regular season home game of the season on Thursday at Williams Arena.
Gophers freshman guard Brittany McCoy tied her career-high and led all scorers with 16 points. Sophomore Emily Fox scored 14, while junior Leslie Knight contributed 13. The Gophers improved to 15-13 overall and 7-8 in the Big Ten.
Senior Kelly Roysland played her final regular season game at Williams Arena and was presented with a game ball before the game for scoring over 1,000 career points.
Michigan (10-18, 3-12 Big Ten) jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead in the game’s opening minutes. The Gophers responded by scoring the next nine points, capped by an offensive putback by junior guard Jordan Barnes to make the score 11-7 with 15:32 to play. Minnesota did not trail for the rest of the game.
The Wolverines kept the score within reach, answering most Minnesota buckets and not letting the Gophers lead by more than six points through the majority of the first half.
Ashley Ellis-Milan hit two free throws with 2:17 remaining to push Minnesota’s lead out to 30-23. Fox and Kelly Roysland hit back-to-back three pointers on the Gophers’ next two possessions to give Minnesota a 36-25 advantage with 31 seconds remaining. After a Michigan basket by LeQuisha Whitfield, Fox spun into the lane and hit a mid-range jumper with three seconds to play to give Minnesota a 38-27 advantage at the half. Knight scored 11 of her points in the first half.
On Michigan’s first possession of the second half, Stephany Skrba scored underneath the basket and was fouled by Roysland. Roysland aggravated her previously injured collerbone on the play, was substituted out and did not return to the game.
The Gophers didn’t let the Wolverines get closer than within eight points in the second half, leading by double digits most of the way.
With 14:40 left in the game, Michigan cut the Minnesota lead to 44-36. The Gophers re-captured the momentum with six straight points, four by freshman center Zoe Harper.
Four minutes later, Michigan made one last charge, closing to within eight points on a three-pointer by Carly Benson at the 10:50 mark (50-42). Once again, the Gophers answered with a six point run capped by a steal and lay-up by McCoy.
McCoy, who sat out most of the first half with two fouls, scored 14 points in the second frame.
Minnesota held Michigan to making just 2-of-12 three-point attempts. The Gophers were 3-of-7 from behind the arc. The Wolverines out-rebounded the Gophers 39-30 in the game.
Benson was the only Michigan starter in double figures with 10 points, while Ta’Shia Walker scored 11 points off of the bench.
Minnesota will travel to East Lansing, Mich. on Sunday to take on Michigan State at 12 p.m. in the regular season finale. The game can be seen live on FSN North and Comcast Chicago.
Gophers freshman guard Brittany McCoy tied her career-high and led all scorers with 16 points. Sophomore Emily Fox scored 14, while junior Leslie Knight contributed 13. The Gophers improved to 15-13 overall and 7-8 in the Big Ten.
Senior Kelly Roysland played her final regular season game at Williams Arena and was presented with a game ball before the game for scoring over 1,000 career points.
Michigan (10-18, 3-12 Big Ten) jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead in the game’s opening minutes. The Gophers responded by scoring the next nine points, capped by an offensive putback by junior guard Jordan Barnes to make the score 11-7 with 15:32 to play. Minnesota did not trail for the rest of the game.
The Wolverines kept the score within reach, answering most Minnesota buckets and not letting the Gophers lead by more than six points through the majority of the first half.
Ashley Ellis-Milan hit two free throws with 2:17 remaining to push Minnesota’s lead out to 30-23. Fox and Kelly Roysland hit back-to-back three pointers on the Gophers’ next two possessions to give Minnesota a 36-25 advantage with 31 seconds remaining. After a Michigan basket by LeQuisha Whitfield, Fox spun into the lane and hit a mid-range jumper with three seconds to play to give Minnesota a 38-27 advantage at the half. Knight scored 11 of her points in the first half.
On Michigan’s first possession of the second half, Stephany Skrba scored underneath the basket and was fouled by Roysland. Roysland aggravated her previously injured collerbone on the play, was substituted out and did not return to the game.
The Gophers didn’t let the Wolverines get closer than within eight points in the second half, leading by double digits most of the way.
With 14:40 left in the game, Michigan cut the Minnesota lead to 44-36. The Gophers re-captured the momentum with six straight points, four by freshman center Zoe Harper.
Four minutes later, Michigan made one last charge, closing to within eight points on a three-pointer by Carly Benson at the 10:50 mark (50-42). Once again, the Gophers answered with a six point run capped by a steal and lay-up by McCoy.
McCoy, who sat out most of the first half with two fouls, scored 14 points in the second frame.
Minnesota held Michigan to making just 2-of-12 three-point attempts. The Gophers were 3-of-7 from behind the arc. The Wolverines out-rebounded the Gophers 39-30 in the game.
Benson was the only Michigan starter in double figures with 10 points, while Ta’Shia Walker scored 11 points off of the bench.
Minnesota will travel to East Lansing, Mich. on Sunday to take on Michigan State at 12 p.m. in the regular season finale. The game can be seen live on FSN North and Comcast Chicago.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballHighlights: Gophers 55, Ohio State 60
Friday, March 06
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Illini
Tuesday, March 03
Highlights: Gophers 78, Illinois 73
Sunday, March 01
Coming Home: Carlie Wagner Olstad
Monday, February 23