University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, November 22
Williams Arena
University of Minnesota
87
vs
78
Colorado
Gophers Win Subway Classic
11/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota captured the title of the Subway Classic with an 87-78 victory over Colorado on Sunday. The Golden Gophers (3-1) were led by 24 points by Kiara Buford and 19 by Classic Most Valuable Player Ashley Ellis-Milan. Buford and China Antoine were also named to the all-tournament team for the Gophers.
The Gophers seem to have found a nice habit of starting off their home games in The Barn with a flurry of points. After Colorado won the tip, Buford stole the ball and went in for a lay-up and was fouled. She converted the three-point play and the Gophers were off and running.
Ellis-Milan scored seven early points, three on a three-point play with 13:48 left in the first half to give the Gophers a 17-7 lead. The Gophers were able to extend their lead to 11 points twice in the half, the second time on a three-pointer by Leah Cotton to give Minnesota a 33-22 lead at the 5:53 mark.
Colorado (2-1) used a 14-4 run late in the half to eventually tie the score at 41-41. Brittany Spears, an All-Big 12 performer, scored seven of her 16 first half points in the run. A three-pointer by Kelly Jo Mullaney tied the score with 1:09 on the clock.
Minnesota looked to Ellis-Milan to answer and the senior drew a foul and hit both free throws to give the lead back to the Gophers. She then hit a turnaround jumper as time expired in the first half to give Minnesota a 45-41 halftime lead.
The Buffaloes came out firing in the second half hitting on six of their first seven shots, including a trio of three-point field goals. Meanwhile, the Gophers started the second half going just 1-of-6 from the floor with four turnovers. Colorado’s third triple, by Bianca Smith at the 15:48 mark, gave the Buffaloes their biggest lead of the game at 51-46.
After a time out, the Gophers regrouped and pecked away at the Colorado behind four straight points by Buford. A three-pointer by Antoine with 13:09 left tied the score at 58-58.
The teams exchanged baskets over the next three minutes. Two Colorado free throws by Smith provided the Buffaloes with their final lead at 61-60 with 10:39 to play.
Back-to-back three pointers by Jackie Voigt and Cotton ignited a 15-4 Gopher run that returned the Minnesota lead to double digits. Colorado scored six straight, four off Gopher turnovers to get back into the game. Mullaney hit two free throws to cut the Minnesota lead to three points at 77-74 with 3:24 remaining.
The Classic MVP, Ellis-Milan, answered the call twice, first with a huge turn-around jumper, and then again with free throws with 1:34 left. The Gophers went 6-for-6 from the line in the final 1:34 to ice the game.
Minnesota shot 50.0 percent from the floor and an impressive 88.2 percent from the line, making 30 of 34 attempts. The Gophers finished with five players in double figures with Voigt adding 13, Cotton 11 and Antoine 10.
The Gophers play host to North Dakota State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The Gophers seem to have found a nice habit of starting off their home games in The Barn with a flurry of points. After Colorado won the tip, Buford stole the ball and went in for a lay-up and was fouled. She converted the three-point play and the Gophers were off and running.
Ellis-Milan scored seven early points, three on a three-point play with 13:48 left in the first half to give the Gophers a 17-7 lead. The Gophers were able to extend their lead to 11 points twice in the half, the second time on a three-pointer by Leah Cotton to give Minnesota a 33-22 lead at the 5:53 mark.
Colorado (2-1) used a 14-4 run late in the half to eventually tie the score at 41-41. Brittany Spears, an All-Big 12 performer, scored seven of her 16 first half points in the run. A three-pointer by Kelly Jo Mullaney tied the score with 1:09 on the clock.
Minnesota looked to Ellis-Milan to answer and the senior drew a foul and hit both free throws to give the lead back to the Gophers. She then hit a turnaround jumper as time expired in the first half to give Minnesota a 45-41 halftime lead.
The Buffaloes came out firing in the second half hitting on six of their first seven shots, including a trio of three-point field goals. Meanwhile, the Gophers started the second half going just 1-of-6 from the floor with four turnovers. Colorado’s third triple, by Bianca Smith at the 15:48 mark, gave the Buffaloes their biggest lead of the game at 51-46.
After a time out, the Gophers regrouped and pecked away at the Colorado behind four straight points by Buford. A three-pointer by Antoine with 13:09 left tied the score at 58-58.
The teams exchanged baskets over the next three minutes. Two Colorado free throws by Smith provided the Buffaloes with their final lead at 61-60 with 10:39 to play.
Back-to-back three pointers by Jackie Voigt and Cotton ignited a 15-4 Gopher run that returned the Minnesota lead to double digits. Colorado scored six straight, four off Gopher turnovers to get back into the game. Mullaney hit two free throws to cut the Minnesota lead to three points at 77-74 with 3:24 remaining.
The Classic MVP, Ellis-Milan, answered the call twice, first with a huge turn-around jumper, and then again with free throws with 1:34 left. The Gophers went 6-for-6 from the line in the final 1:34 to ice the game.
Minnesota shot 50.0 percent from the floor and an impressive 88.2 percent from the line, making 30 of 34 attempts. The Gophers finished with five players in double figures with Voigt adding 13, Cotton 11 and Antoine 10.
The Gophers play host to North Dakota State on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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