University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, January 31
West Lafayette, IN
University of Minnesota
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Purdue
Gophers Drop Close One at Purdue
2/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota had its chances but the Golden Gophers were unable to take advantage and left Mackey Arena with a 56-54 loss to Purdue. Leslie Knight led the Gophers with 22 points. Emily Fox, though she dished out seven assists, struggled mightily from the field and finished with just two points on 0-8 from the field.
The Gophers, now 15-7 overall and 6-4 in Big Ten play, also missed out on the chance to move into a first-place tie thanks to Illinois’ upset of Ohio State. Now, the Buckeyes, Purdue and Iowa sit atop the league standings at 7-3.
“I was disappointed by our performance tonight,” said Golden Gopher head coach Pam Borton. “We didn’t match Purdue’s energy and we let their guards determine the tempo of the game. Leslie (Knight) continued to play like an all-conference level but it wasn’t enough.”
Purdue (11-10) hit a trio of three pointers midway through the second half to take a 44-36 lead, the Boilermakers’ largest of the game. Minnesota chipped away at the deficit and tied the score at 52-52 on a three-pointer by Katie Ohm off the right wing with 1:31 remaining.
Boiler junior Natasha Bogdanova answered with a huge three, her only successful try in six attempts from long range, to put Purdue up 55-52 with 1:01 remaining. Knight hit a lay-in to bring the Gophers within a point with 34 seconds left.
The Gophers fouled FahKara Malone, who had missed five free throws to that point. She made the first but missed the second, Knight grabbed the rebound and Minnesota had one more chance.
Borton called a time out with 17.8 seconds remaining. The Purdue defense scattered the Gophers’ offense and Minnesota failed to even get a shot off in the possession.
The first half was tight throughout. Both teams struggled with turnovers with Purdue committing 13 miscues to 10 for the Gophers. The Boilers, however, took advantage of the Minnesota mistakes to score 10 points and led 27-26 at halftime. Purdue took the lead into the locker room at half on a last second lay-up by Malone, who finished with 11 first-half points. Minnesota did not score a field goal in the last 4:16 of the half.
Purdue never trailed in the second half despite converting on just 5-of-13 free throw attempts in the half and 9-of-18 for the game. Minnesota, never in the bonus in each half, made just eight trips to the line, making five. The Boilers also turned the ball over a total of 21 times, while Minnesota finished with 20.
Minnesota travels to Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 3, in the Gophers’ next action.
The Gophers, now 15-7 overall and 6-4 in Big Ten play, also missed out on the chance to move into a first-place tie thanks to Illinois’ upset of Ohio State. Now, the Buckeyes, Purdue and Iowa sit atop the league standings at 7-3.
“I was disappointed by our performance tonight,” said Golden Gopher head coach Pam Borton. “We didn’t match Purdue’s energy and we let their guards determine the tempo of the game. Leslie (Knight) continued to play like an all-conference level but it wasn’t enough.”
Purdue (11-10) hit a trio of three pointers midway through the second half to take a 44-36 lead, the Boilermakers’ largest of the game. Minnesota chipped away at the deficit and tied the score at 52-52 on a three-pointer by Katie Ohm off the right wing with 1:31 remaining.
Boiler junior Natasha Bogdanova answered with a huge three, her only successful try in six attempts from long range, to put Purdue up 55-52 with 1:01 remaining. Knight hit a lay-in to bring the Gophers within a point with 34 seconds left.
The Gophers fouled FahKara Malone, who had missed five free throws to that point. She made the first but missed the second, Knight grabbed the rebound and Minnesota had one more chance.
Borton called a time out with 17.8 seconds remaining. The Purdue defense scattered the Gophers’ offense and Minnesota failed to even get a shot off in the possession.
The first half was tight throughout. Both teams struggled with turnovers with Purdue committing 13 miscues to 10 for the Gophers. The Boilers, however, took advantage of the Minnesota mistakes to score 10 points and led 27-26 at halftime. Purdue took the lead into the locker room at half on a last second lay-up by Malone, who finished with 11 first-half points. Minnesota did not score a field goal in the last 4:16 of the half.
Purdue never trailed in the second half despite converting on just 5-of-13 free throw attempts in the half and 9-of-18 for the game. Minnesota, never in the bonus in each half, made just eight trips to the line, making five. The Boilers also turned the ball over a total of 21 times, while Minnesota finished with 20.
Minnesota travels to Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 3, in the Gophers’ next action.
Players Mentioned
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