University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, March 22
South Bend, IN
University of Minnesota
79
at
71
Notre Dame
Gophers Win at Notre Dame
3/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Behind 23 points from Emily Fox and five huge three-pointers from Katie Ohm, the No. 10 seeded Golden Gophers upset No. 7 seed and host Notre Dame, 79-71, on Sunday in South Bend. Minnesota (20-11) advances to face No. 2 seed Texas A&M, an 80-45 winner over No. 15 seed Evansville.
The Gophers shot out of the blocks early. Jackie Voigt swished a jumper on Minnesota’s first possession fueling a stretch to open the game where Minnesota made nine of its first 11 field goal attempts.
Notre Dame (22-9) leading scorer Lindsay Schrader tied the score at 2-2 but would pick up her second personal foul when Brittany McCoy drove to the basket and banked in a lay-up with 17:30 to go. McCoy converted the three-point play, while Schrader headed to the bench.
The Gophers took advantage to build a double-digit lead. Voigt added three more field goals, her fourth bucket of the first half at the 9:03 mark put Minnesota up by a 28-15 margin.
McCoy dished out six assists and scored five points while running the Gopher offense at a highly efficient level in the first half. With 3:56 remaining before halftime, however, McCoy was whistled for her third foul and the game would change from that point on.
The Gophers had found success with McCoy driving the lane and dishing the ball. Now Fox was forced to move to the point guard position and run the offense. Zoe Harper’s layup off an Ohm assist at the 1:25 mark was the Gophers’ only basket the rest of the way in the half. Shooting 81.8 percent to start the game hitting nine of their first 11, the Gophers cooled somewhat to finish the first half shooting 62.5 percent from the floor.
Minnesota’s defense kept the Irish off balance. Notre Dame shot just 34.5 percent in the first half on their home court and the Gophers took a 42-30 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.
The Gophers expected No. 23/20 Notre Dame to make a run and the Irish made several in the second half. Minnesota, now 11-7 in NCAA Tournament games, found an answer.
Just 33 seconds in the second half, McCoy picked up her fourth foul. Ashley Barlow, who led the Irish with 20 points, made two free throws to close Notre Dame to within 10 points at 42-32.
Big three-pointers became the name of the game for the Gophers. The first came from Kay Sylva, nailing a three from the right baseline on her first attempt after replacing McCoy in the lineup.
Notre Dame also were forced to look to their bench as well when Schrader came down awkwardly and hurt her back early in the second half. Schrader did not return. The Irish managed to dig deep and rally.
With McCoy and Schrader back on the bench, the Irish chipped away at the Gopher lead. Notre Dame turned up the pressure and attacked the basket and was rewarded with free throws. Two free throws by Erica Solomon cut the deficit to two points at 55-53 with 10:14 to play.
Ohm came to the rescue for the Gophers hitting back-to-back-to-back three pointers in Minnesota’s next three possessions. Ohm’s final triple of the stretch, her fifth of the game, was the Gopher junior’s 73 three-pointer of the season tying a Minnesota single-season record. Notre Dame’s Melissa Lechlitner answered one of Ohm’s treys but when Fox fired a three at the top of the key with 5:12 left, the two-point edge had returned to a double-digit lead (67-56).
Minnesota managed to eat time off the clock with some timely offensive rebounding to extend their possessions. Notre Dame made one last push closing to within seven points at 71-64 with 1:58 remaining. The Gophers iced the game by going 6-for-6 from the free throw line the rest of the way.
Fox was joined by Ohm (15) and Ashley Ellis-Milan (10) in double figures. Harper pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds, seven of them coming on the offensive end. The Gophers outrebounded the Irish by a 45-32 margin.
The Gophers shot out of the blocks early. Jackie Voigt swished a jumper on Minnesota’s first possession fueling a stretch to open the game where Minnesota made nine of its first 11 field goal attempts.
Notre Dame (22-9) leading scorer Lindsay Schrader tied the score at 2-2 but would pick up her second personal foul when Brittany McCoy drove to the basket and banked in a lay-up with 17:30 to go. McCoy converted the three-point play, while Schrader headed to the bench.
The Gophers took advantage to build a double-digit lead. Voigt added three more field goals, her fourth bucket of the first half at the 9:03 mark put Minnesota up by a 28-15 margin.
McCoy dished out six assists and scored five points while running the Gopher offense at a highly efficient level in the first half. With 3:56 remaining before halftime, however, McCoy was whistled for her third foul and the game would change from that point on.
The Gophers had found success with McCoy driving the lane and dishing the ball. Now Fox was forced to move to the point guard position and run the offense. Zoe Harper’s layup off an Ohm assist at the 1:25 mark was the Gophers’ only basket the rest of the way in the half. Shooting 81.8 percent to start the game hitting nine of their first 11, the Gophers cooled somewhat to finish the first half shooting 62.5 percent from the floor.
Minnesota’s defense kept the Irish off balance. Notre Dame shot just 34.5 percent in the first half on their home court and the Gophers took a 42-30 lead into the lockerroom at halftime.
The Gophers expected No. 23/20 Notre Dame to make a run and the Irish made several in the second half. Minnesota, now 11-7 in NCAA Tournament games, found an answer.
Just 33 seconds in the second half, McCoy picked up her fourth foul. Ashley Barlow, who led the Irish with 20 points, made two free throws to close Notre Dame to within 10 points at 42-32.
Big three-pointers became the name of the game for the Gophers. The first came from Kay Sylva, nailing a three from the right baseline on her first attempt after replacing McCoy in the lineup.
Notre Dame also were forced to look to their bench as well when Schrader came down awkwardly and hurt her back early in the second half. Schrader did not return. The Irish managed to dig deep and rally.
With McCoy and Schrader back on the bench, the Irish chipped away at the Gopher lead. Notre Dame turned up the pressure and attacked the basket and was rewarded with free throws. Two free throws by Erica Solomon cut the deficit to two points at 55-53 with 10:14 to play.
Ohm came to the rescue for the Gophers hitting back-to-back-to-back three pointers in Minnesota’s next three possessions. Ohm’s final triple of the stretch, her fifth of the game, was the Gopher junior’s 73 three-pointer of the season tying a Minnesota single-season record. Notre Dame’s Melissa Lechlitner answered one of Ohm’s treys but when Fox fired a three at the top of the key with 5:12 left, the two-point edge had returned to a double-digit lead (67-56).
Minnesota managed to eat time off the clock with some timely offensive rebounding to extend their possessions. Notre Dame made one last push closing to within seven points at 71-64 with 1:58 remaining. The Gophers iced the game by going 6-for-6 from the free throw line the rest of the way.
Fox was joined by Ohm (15) and Ashley Ellis-Milan (10) in double figures. Harper pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds, seven of them coming on the offensive end. The Gophers outrebounded the Irish by a 45-32 margin.
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballComing Home: Carlie Wagner Olstad
Monday, February 23
Highlights: Gophers 61, Michigan State 75
Sunday, February 22
Cinematic Recap: #23 Gophers-#10 Buckeyes
Friday, February 20
Postgame Reaction: Gophers Top #10 OSU
Wednesday, February 18