University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Upset by Winona State in Exhibition Game
11/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Winona State’s Natalie Gigler hit a 12-foot jumper from the left baseline with one second left in the game to give the Warriors a 64-62 victory over Minnesota in exhibition action at Williams Arena on Wednesday. The Golden Gophers were led by Kiara Buford with 18 points.
“You have to give credit to Winona State,” said Golden Gopher head coach Pam Borton. “They played very well and hit big shots. We on the other hand have a long list of things to work on.”
The Gophers looked very much like a team playing its first exhibition game of the season. Minnesota shot only 31.4 percent in the first half. They pulled down 11 offensive rebounds in the half, but tallied only three points from the second-chance opportunities.
Meanwhile, Winona State caught fire. The Warriors hit eight first-half three-pointers to take a 33-28 lead into intermission. Senior guard Ana Wurtz notched four of those triples and torched the Gopher defense for 14 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 20.
Minnesota seemed to capture momentum with a 9-3 run to start the second half. Buford’s three-pointer with 17:18 remaining gave the Gophers a 37-36 lead. The lead changed hands several times over the course of the second half. Each time Minnesota made a push, the Warriors answered.
The Gophers took a 61-58 lead on an Ashley Ellis-Milan three-point play with 2:47 left and then regained possession on a Brittany McCoy steal. Buford, however, was called for an offensive foul driving for a layup.
Winona State closed to within a point (61-60) on a basket by Marieanna Dules with 1:54 remaining followed by Jackie Voigt tallying the final Gopher point on a free throw with 69 ticks left. Voigt missed the second free throw of the bonus but McCoy grabbed the offensive rebound. The Gophers were unable to capitalize on their 21st offensive rebound of the game and Winona State tied the score at 62-62 a lay-in by Michelle McDonald.
The Gophers worked the ball around and found Katie Ohm for a wide-open three-pointer with 25 seconds left. The shot just wouldn’t fall and Winona State secured the rebound. The Warriors did not call a time out but instead attacked the Gopher defense. Dules drove into the lane and dished to an open Gigler for the game winner.
Minnesota shot just 36.5 percent for the game, while Winona State connected on 50 percent, including a blistering 12-of-25 from three-point range. The Gophers ended up scoring just 12 points off of 21 offensive rebounds.
The exhibition loss is the first under Pam Borton after 14 consecutive exhibition victories. Minnesota hosts Minnesota-Duluth on Sunday at 2 p.m.
“You have to give credit to Winona State,” said Golden Gopher head coach Pam Borton. “They played very well and hit big shots. We on the other hand have a long list of things to work on.”
The Gophers looked very much like a team playing its first exhibition game of the season. Minnesota shot only 31.4 percent in the first half. They pulled down 11 offensive rebounds in the half, but tallied only three points from the second-chance opportunities.
Meanwhile, Winona State caught fire. The Warriors hit eight first-half three-pointers to take a 33-28 lead into intermission. Senior guard Ana Wurtz notched four of those triples and torched the Gopher defense for 14 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 20.
Minnesota seemed to capture momentum with a 9-3 run to start the second half. Buford’s three-pointer with 17:18 remaining gave the Gophers a 37-36 lead. The lead changed hands several times over the course of the second half. Each time Minnesota made a push, the Warriors answered.
The Gophers took a 61-58 lead on an Ashley Ellis-Milan three-point play with 2:47 left and then regained possession on a Brittany McCoy steal. Buford, however, was called for an offensive foul driving for a layup.
Winona State closed to within a point (61-60) on a basket by Marieanna Dules with 1:54 remaining followed by Jackie Voigt tallying the final Gopher point on a free throw with 69 ticks left. Voigt missed the second free throw of the bonus but McCoy grabbed the offensive rebound. The Gophers were unable to capitalize on their 21st offensive rebound of the game and Winona State tied the score at 62-62 a lay-in by Michelle McDonald.
The Gophers worked the ball around and found Katie Ohm for a wide-open three-pointer with 25 seconds left. The shot just wouldn’t fall and Winona State secured the rebound. The Warriors did not call a time out but instead attacked the Gopher defense. Dules drove into the lane and dished to an open Gigler for the game winner.
Minnesota shot just 36.5 percent for the game, while Winona State connected on 50 percent, including a blistering 12-of-25 from three-point range. The Gophers ended up scoring just 12 points off of 21 offensive rebounds.
The exhibition loss is the first under Pam Borton after 14 consecutive exhibition victories. Minnesota hosts Minnesota-Duluth on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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