University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, November 15
Williams Arena
University of Minnesota
84
vs
45
Lamar
Buford Leads Gophers to Season-Opening Win
11/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Kiara Buford scored a career-high 23 points and added her first career double-double with 11 rebounds to lead Minnesota to a season-opening 84-45 victory over Lamar on Sunday in Williams Arena. Buford was one of three Golden Gophers in double figures as Katie Ohm added 13 and Ashley Ellis-Milan 11.
“I think we’re happy with the start of our season and how the game played out,” said Pam Borton, who is 7-1 in season-opening games at Minnesota. “When we play with that type of effort and intensity, there’s not any one in the country that we can’t beat.”
The Gophers could not have scripted a better start to the game. Minnesota, behind 10 early points by Buford, blitzed to a 20-0 lead. During the run, Ellis-Milan gathered in an offensive rebound and banked in a short putback to become the 19th 1,000-point career scorer in Minnesota history.
“I enjoyed the moment,” said Ellis-Milan, who now has 1,009 career points. “It seemed fitting for me to get my 1,000th point off an offensive rebound.”
The Lady Cardinals finally broke into the scoring column with 13:34 left in the first half. Lamar found its stride briefly working their way back into the ball game with a 14-2 run to make the score 22-14. The teams exchanged baskets before two Ellis-Milan free throws at the 7:29 mark returned the Minnesota lead to double digits for good. Minnesota held a 40-23 lead at the half.
Lamar (0-1) shot just 17.1 percent in the second half and the Gopher lead swelled to as big as 39 points when Kristen Dockery hit a free throw with 1:13 remaining to cap off the scoring. Coach Borton was able to spread out the minutes played with nine Gophers seeing seven or more minutes of action in the second half. Ohm scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half.
Minnesota finished the game with a 66-42 advantage on the boards with Zoe Harper and Buford sharing game honors with 11 rebounds apiece. China Antoine came off the bench to lead the Gophers in assists with four.
The Gophers head west to play Utah on Tuesday in their next action. Minnesota will play its first seven games of the season in a two-week span.
“I think we’re happy with the start of our season and how the game played out,” said Pam Borton, who is 7-1 in season-opening games at Minnesota. “When we play with that type of effort and intensity, there’s not any one in the country that we can’t beat.”
The Gophers could not have scripted a better start to the game. Minnesota, behind 10 early points by Buford, blitzed to a 20-0 lead. During the run, Ellis-Milan gathered in an offensive rebound and banked in a short putback to become the 19th 1,000-point career scorer in Minnesota history.
“I enjoyed the moment,” said Ellis-Milan, who now has 1,009 career points. “It seemed fitting for me to get my 1,000th point off an offensive rebound.”
The Lady Cardinals finally broke into the scoring column with 13:34 left in the first half. Lamar found its stride briefly working their way back into the ball game with a 14-2 run to make the score 22-14. The teams exchanged baskets before two Ellis-Milan free throws at the 7:29 mark returned the Minnesota lead to double digits for good. Minnesota held a 40-23 lead at the half.
Lamar (0-1) shot just 17.1 percent in the second half and the Gopher lead swelled to as big as 39 points when Kristen Dockery hit a free throw with 1:13 remaining to cap off the scoring. Coach Borton was able to spread out the minutes played with nine Gophers seeing seven or more minutes of action in the second half. Ohm scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half.
Minnesota finished the game with a 66-42 advantage on the boards with Zoe Harper and Buford sharing game honors with 11 rebounds apiece. China Antoine came off the bench to lead the Gophers in assists with four.
The Gophers head west to play Utah on Tuesday in their next action. Minnesota will play its first seven games of the season in a two-week span.
Players Mentioned
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