University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Stanford
Minnesota Drops Opener at No. 2 Stanford
11/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota opened the 2008-09 season with 68-55 loss at No. 2/2 Stanford in Maples Pavilion on the Stanford campus on Friday. Katie Ohm led all scorers with 15 points, while Zoe Harper added 12.
“We played a very good Stanford team, one that had everyone but one player back form last’s year title game, and on their home court and we had our chances to pull out a win,” said Golden Gopher head coach Pam Borton. “I liked our effort, especially in the second. We fought hard out there.”
The Gophers overcame an early 14-point deficit to pull within five points at 43-38 with 11 minutes left in the game. Harper banked home a jumper off the left block to cause a stunned Stanford crowd of 3,436 to stir a bit uncomfortably in the newly remodeled Maples Pavilion seats.
“We didn’t play well in the first half,” added Borton. “We couldn’t hit shots and we didn’t rebound. The second half was a much better story for us and it got us back in the ball game. We only gave up two offensive rebounds after being hurt on those in the first half. We took better care of the ball and made some plays with the ball.”
Stanford, who lost to Tennessee in last spring’s NCAA title tilt, answered with seven straight points, a run started by a lay-up by last year’s Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Kayla Pedersen. The Cardinal (1-0) took control for that point on.
Minnesota (0-1) needed to dig out of a hole after a shaky first half on both ends of the court. The Cardinal hit seven of their first eight shots to take a 21-7 lead in the game’s first five minutes. Meanwhile, the Gophers were struggled to find the basket on the offensive end and gave up some costly offensive rebounds on the other end.
The Gophers managed to stay within striking distance thanks to Brittany McCoy’s perfect 6-for-6 performance from the free throw line and a couple jumpers by freshman Kiara Buford. Despite Minnesota’s shooting just 19.2 percent, Stanford owned a 27-17 lead at halftime.
Ohm scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half, including a trio of three-point field goals, Inside, the Gophers turned to Harper, who responded with 10 second-half points.
“We can’t help but feel disappointed with this loss but we learned so much about ourselves in this game that it can’t but help us down the line,” said Ohm, a junior. “We’re a good team. We expected to battle with Stanford.”
The Gophers continue their California road trip with a game at Santa Clara on Sunday.
