University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Northwestern
Gophers Hang On For Win Over Northwestern
1/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Ashley Ellis-Milan hit a right-handed lay-in with a minute left and Jackie Voigt netted two clutch free throws late as Minnesota held off Northwestern for a 43-40 win at Williams Arena on Sunday. Minnesota improves to 14-6 overall 6-3 in Big Ten play.
Ellis-Milan finished with 13 points. Voigt tallied eight points and nine rebounds. Emily Fox was the only other Gopher to score in double figures with 10 points.
Yes, the score is correct 43-40. One has to go all the way the early days of women’s collegiate basketball, back to the 1973-74 season to find a game where Minnesota won scoring less points (38-37 over Minnesota-Duluth on Feb . 4, 1974.
Regardless of the lack of scoring, however, the game was as exciting as any tied going into the last four minutes of the game.
Ellis-Milan hit a free throw with 3:08 remaining broke a 36-36 tie, then she dished the rock to Fox who hit a jumper on the Gophers’ next possession to give Minnesota a 39-36 lead with 2:38 left.
Northwestern’s Amy Jaeschke hit a nice fade-away jumper from the left wing with 2:14 remaining to close the Wildcats to within a point at 39-38. The Wildcats got the ball back on a Fox missed three-pointer. Northwestern looked to Jaeschke once again and the Gopher defense swarmed to the 6-5 center. Jaeschke calmly found guard Brittany Orban underneath the basket for an easy bucket giving the Wildcats a 40-39 lead. Orban led Northwestern with 13 points.
Despite having a rough game on offense, the Gophers looked into the post for Ellis-Milan. Ellis-Milan took an Ohm pass and spun across the lane banking home a right-handed lay-in. Minnesota regained the lead at 41-40 with 1:03 remaining.
The Gopher defense pressured the Wildcats into settling for a long three-point attempt by Erin Dickerson and the rebounded was snagged by Ellis-Milan, the first of her three big rebounds in the final 45 seconds.
The Gophers looked to work time off the clock and Fox took a jumper with 15 seconds on the game clock. The shot bounced off the rim and Ellis-Milan grabbed the rebound. Forced to foul, Northwestern decided to put rookie Voigt on the line. The Gopher rookie, who has started every game this season, calmly toed the line and swished both free throws to give Minnesota a 43-40 lead with 13 second left.
The Wildcats had three shots at the basket, only one from three-point range, before Ellis-Milan sealed the game with a defensive rebound as time expired.
Neither team found any rhythm on offense. Northwestern shot 27.7 percent going 1-for-13 from three-point range. Minnesota edged that at 30.8 percent overall and 2-for-20 from behind the arc. What the Wildcats gained with a 42-32 advantage on the boards, the Gophers negated by turning the ball over just 13 times to 19 for Northwestern.
The 43 points scored by the Gophers is the lowest winning total in 35 years. The combined total of 83 (Minnesota, 43 Northwestern 40) is the lowest combined score in the NCAA era for Minnesota. The previous low was 94 points, which occurred twice, the last being a 63-31 Gopher loss at Purdue on Feb. 12, 2005. The previous combined scored at home in Williams Arena was 97 points when Minnesota defeated St. Francis, 64-33, on March 19, 2005 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The 40 points allowed is the lowest this season and the lowest point total scored against the Gophers since Chicago State managed just 34 points in a 72-34 loss in Williams Arena on Dec. 2, 2006. The total is the lowest the Gophers have allowed in Big Ten since Northwestern scored just 33 points (71-33) in Williams Arena in the regular-season finale of the 2005-06 season.
Minnesota quotes
Head Coach Pam Borton
Opening statement
“It came down to the last four minutes of the game. For most of the game our rebounding and shooting was poor, especially our perimeter shooting. In the end, we were able to get ourselves to the free-throw line and get the rebounds we needed to get the victory.”
On Northwestern’s defensive control of Ashley Ellis-Milan
“Northwestern did a great job controlling Ashley. She couldn’t get the rebounds she’s accustomed to getting. However, Ashley came up with some big plays at the end of the game, which is what veterans need to do.”
On Minnesota’s shooting struggles
“It concerns me that we aren’t making shots. We need to score more in transition and get to the free-throw line more often. Defensively we’re very solid and we have been relying on our defense and rebounding for the past few games.”
On Jackie Voigt
“Thirty-eight minutes for a freshman is amazing. She was hustling on the offensive boards. Jackie is playing at a higher level than a freshman. I mean, it’s difficult for any player to hit a couple of free throws at the end of a game and she pulled it off.”
Senior guard Emily Fox
On Northwestern’s pressure
“I was surprised by the pressure Northwestern put on us. They were doubling down in the post and the guards were putting on a lot of pressure on the ball handlers. Overall, it was a good defensive effort by both teams.”
On the end of the game
“We settled down in the last four minutes of the game. That is something that Coach Borton has been stressing to us, controlling the last four minutes. In the Big Ten it always comes down to the last four minutes of a game. Today, we got the stops and made the shots to win.”
Junior forward/center Ashley Ellis-Milan
On Amy Jaeschke
“Jaeschke is a great player. She is big and was able to push me out of the paint. I’m use to turning around and getting my shot, but she did a great job at preventing me from doing this.
Northwestern Head Coach Joe McKeown
Opening Statement
“I thought Williams Arena was a great atmosphere. We left a lot on the game and defensively we played perfect. We were able to control Minnesota’s offense and I was really proud of my team.”
On Minnesota making plays at the end of the game
“Minnesota made some plays at the end and we didn’t. We controlled Minnesota’s offense for most of the game, but they are a team that knows how to win. We are learning this and will only get better at finishing games in February.”
