University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 6
Indianapolis, IN
University of Minnesota
64
vs
79
Iowa
Gophers Lose to Iowa in Big Ten Tourney
3/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota ran into the hottest team in the Big Ten in the quarterfinal of the Big Ten Conference Tournament and dropped a 79-64 decision to the Hawkeyes. No.4 seed Iowa advanced to Saturday’s semifinal contest versus No. 1 seed Ohio State. Minnesota falls to 19-11overall on the season.
Ashley Ellis-Milan and Brittany McCoy led the Gophers with 15 points. Emily Fox added 13 points. McCoy also dished out six assists.
Minnesota played one of its better games of late offensively but could not keep up with the hot-shooting Hawkeyes, especially senior Wendy Ausdemore. Ausdemore scored 13 points in the first eight minutes of the game and finished with a season-best 25 points making 10-of-16 shots, including 4-of-5 three-point field goals. Iowa’s shooting percentage hovered near 60 percent for the first half.
Though the teams were playing their first game in the Big Ten Tournament, both the Gophers and Hawkeyes put effective offensive efforts on the floor to start the game. The score was tied five times, the last at 17-17 when McCoy hit a three-pointer from the top of the key.
Iowa (21-9) scored the next nine points to put some distance between itself and Minnesota on the scoreboard. Ausdemore drove in for a lay-up drew the foul and hit the free throw from an old-fashioned three-point play, then followed up a Kristi Smith triple, with a trey of her own to give the Hawkeyes a 28-17 advantage with 11:44 left in the first half.
Zoe Harper ended the run with a three-point play. Two minutes later, Ellis-Milan hit a short jumper to close the Gophers to within five points at 30-25 at the 7:42 mark. Minnesota had three possessions to decrease the deficit further but came up empty and was never able to get closer the rest of the game.
The Hawkeye outscored the Gophers by a 14-4 margin to take their biggest lead of the first half at 44-29. The Gophers closed the half with a 6-0 spurt capped by a Kay Sylva steal and lay-up as the horn sounded to make the score 44-34.
The second half began with the teams exchanging baskets. McCoy scored a three-point play to bring the Gophers to within 64-54 with 10:14. Minnesota unfortunately followed up McCoy’s play with five unsuccessful trips on the offensive end. The Gopher defense also held and finally Fox scored on a lay-up at the 6:19 and the deficit was down to eight points at 64-56.
Iowa’ s Megan Skouby quickly put the Hawkeyes back up by double digits on their very next possession and Minnesota never challenged from that point on.
Iowa, winners of its last seven games, made 10 of its first 13 shots and finished shooting 51 percent. The Hawkeyes made five of their first eight three-point field goals. Kachine Alexander contributed a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Minnesota shot a respectable 43 percent and turned the ball over just 12 times, but struggled from the free throw line making just 10 of 17.
Ashley Ellis-Milan and Brittany McCoy led the Gophers with 15 points. Emily Fox added 13 points. McCoy also dished out six assists.
Minnesota played one of its better games of late offensively but could not keep up with the hot-shooting Hawkeyes, especially senior Wendy Ausdemore. Ausdemore scored 13 points in the first eight minutes of the game and finished with a season-best 25 points making 10-of-16 shots, including 4-of-5 three-point field goals. Iowa’s shooting percentage hovered near 60 percent for the first half.
Though the teams were playing their first game in the Big Ten Tournament, both the Gophers and Hawkeyes put effective offensive efforts on the floor to start the game. The score was tied five times, the last at 17-17 when McCoy hit a three-pointer from the top of the key.
Iowa (21-9) scored the next nine points to put some distance between itself and Minnesota on the scoreboard. Ausdemore drove in for a lay-up drew the foul and hit the free throw from an old-fashioned three-point play, then followed up a Kristi Smith triple, with a trey of her own to give the Hawkeyes a 28-17 advantage with 11:44 left in the first half.
Zoe Harper ended the run with a three-point play. Two minutes later, Ellis-Milan hit a short jumper to close the Gophers to within five points at 30-25 at the 7:42 mark. Minnesota had three possessions to decrease the deficit further but came up empty and was never able to get closer the rest of the game.
The Hawkeye outscored the Gophers by a 14-4 margin to take their biggest lead of the first half at 44-29. The Gophers closed the half with a 6-0 spurt capped by a Kay Sylva steal and lay-up as the horn sounded to make the score 44-34.
The second half began with the teams exchanging baskets. McCoy scored a three-point play to bring the Gophers to within 64-54 with 10:14. Minnesota unfortunately followed up McCoy’s play with five unsuccessful trips on the offensive end. The Gopher defense also held and finally Fox scored on a lay-up at the 6:19 and the deficit was down to eight points at 64-56.
Iowa’ s Megan Skouby quickly put the Hawkeyes back up by double digits on their very next possession and Minnesota never challenged from that point on.
Iowa, winners of its last seven games, made 10 of its first 13 shots and finished shooting 51 percent. The Hawkeyes made five of their first eight three-point field goals. Kachine Alexander contributed a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Minnesota shot a respectable 43 percent and turned the ball over just 12 times, but struggled from the free throw line making just 10 of 17.
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballMaking Connections: Sophie Hart & Zoey Bershers
Friday, October 17
Behind the Scenes: B1G Media Day
Tuesday, October 14
Braun & Battle at B1G Media Day
Wednesday, October 08
Coach Plitzuweit at B1G Media Day
Wednesday, October 08