University of Minnesota Athletics
Tuesday, November 17
Salt Lake City, UT
University of Minnesota
59
at
60
Utah
Gophers Edged by Utah, 60-59
11/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota dropped its first game of the season losing 60-59 to Utah in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. The Golden Gophers (1-1) were led by Ashley Ellis-Milan with 15 points.
Despite struggling mightily on offense the entire game, Minnesota used its defense to stay in the contest. China Antoine playing for the fouled-out Brittany McCoy stole the ball with 1:32 left in the game and hit a three-pointer to bring the Gophers to within 58-55.
Utah (1-1) missed a jumper on its next possession and Katie Ohm gathered in the rebound. She was later fouled and made one of two free throws with 45 seconds left (58-56). Utah rebounded the miss but turned the ball over due to the Gopher pressure defense with 29 seconds remaining. The Gopher offense was unable to convert on the biggest possession of the game as Jackie Voigt fired a pass over the head of Ellis-Milan notching a very costly turnover.
The Gophers were forced to foul and leading scorer Kalee Whipple hit two important free throws to give the Utes a four-point lead at 60-56 with11 seconds left. Voigt hit a three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left.
Minnesota started the game cold as ice shooting from the field and at one time was shooting just 21 percent from the floor, missing 11 of their first 14 shots. The Gophers trailed by only two points, 28-26, at the half despite finishing the half 9-of-31 from the field and 1-for-9 (11.1 percent) from three-point range.
Utah lead the entire second half extending its lead to as big as nine points at 41-32 with 13:39 remaining.
McCoy and Antoine both scored 10 points to join Ellis-Milan in double figures. Kiara Buford scored nine points in the first half, but went scoreless and 0-for-3 from the floor in the second half.
The Gophers also came up on the short end of the rebounding battle as Utah maintained a 46-34 advantage, including a damaging 15 offensive rebounds.
Minnesota returns home to host the Subway Classic this weekend.
Despite struggling mightily on offense the entire game, Minnesota used its defense to stay in the contest. China Antoine playing for the fouled-out Brittany McCoy stole the ball with 1:32 left in the game and hit a three-pointer to bring the Gophers to within 58-55.
Utah (1-1) missed a jumper on its next possession and Katie Ohm gathered in the rebound. She was later fouled and made one of two free throws with 45 seconds left (58-56). Utah rebounded the miss but turned the ball over due to the Gopher pressure defense with 29 seconds remaining. The Gopher offense was unable to convert on the biggest possession of the game as Jackie Voigt fired a pass over the head of Ellis-Milan notching a very costly turnover.
The Gophers were forced to foul and leading scorer Kalee Whipple hit two important free throws to give the Utes a four-point lead at 60-56 with11 seconds left. Voigt hit a three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left.
Minnesota started the game cold as ice shooting from the field and at one time was shooting just 21 percent from the floor, missing 11 of their first 14 shots. The Gophers trailed by only two points, 28-26, at the half despite finishing the half 9-of-31 from the field and 1-for-9 (11.1 percent) from three-point range.
Utah lead the entire second half extending its lead to as big as nine points at 41-32 with 13:39 remaining.
McCoy and Antoine both scored 10 points to join Ellis-Milan in double figures. Kiara Buford scored nine points in the first half, but went scoreless and 0-for-3 from the floor in the second half.
The Gophers also came up on the short end of the rebounding battle as Utah maintained a 46-34 advantage, including a damaging 15 offensive rebounds.
Minnesota returns home to host the Subway Classic this weekend.
Players Mentioned
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