University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Green Bay
Gophers Drop Best Buy Classic Title Tilt
11/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Golden Gopher women’s basketball team’s valiant comeback effort came up just short, as Minnesota dropped a 79-75 decision to Green Bay on Sunday in the championship game of the Best Buy Classic.
The Gophers (1-1) fought back from three separate 16-point second-half deficits behind the play of junior guard Kiara Buford, who scored 22 points, including 13 in the second half. Sophomore guard Leah Cotton added a career-high 23 points, making 10-of-12 field goals, and joined Buford on the Best Buy Classic all-tournament team.
The Gophers took a 2-0 lead at the 19:40 mark on a couple free throws by junior forward Brianna Mastey, but Green Bay would score the next 11 points to take an 11-2 lead before Buford knocked down Minnesota's first field goal of the game at the 15:09 mark.
Green Bay pushed its advantage to 17-6 by making seven of its first 11 field goal attempts and forcing the Gophers into eight early turnovers. The Phoenix maintained their lead, and were up 23-14 before back-to-back baskets by junior forward Jackie Voigt and Cotton cut it to 23-18. But Green Bay's Adrian Ritchie, who was named the Best Buy Classic's most valuable player, knocked down a three to put the Phoenix back up by eight points.
Minnesota pulled back within four points, 26-22, on two more free throws by Brianna Mastey and a field goal by freshman forward Micaëlla Riché at the 7:02 mark, but Green Bay scored five quick points to extend its lead back to nine points at 32-23 with 6:12 left.
The Golden Gophers picked up the intensity on defense, and fed off the energy of a very loud and supportive crowd of 3,052, clawing their way back by outscoring the Phoenix 15-6. That run forced a 38-38 tie with 0:45 left in the half, before Green Bay emerged with a 40-38 lead at the break.
Green Bay came out of the lockerroom for the second half, and quickly established a lead, which grew to 16 points (61-45) with 11:49 remaining in the game. Julie Wojta, who was also named to the all-tournament team for the Phoenix, scored 10 points during the 21-7 spurt that put Green Bay back in control.
Playing without sophomore forward Katie Loberg, who left the game with an injury late in the first half, Minnesota kept fighting. The Gophers cut it back to 11 points, but Green Bay responded to push the lead back to 16 points with 9:54 left. The Phoenix still led by 16, 68-52, following another Wojta field goal with 8:42 remaining.
But the gutsy Gophers then went on a 15-2 run to cut Green Bay's advantage to three, 70-67, with 3:06 left on the clock. Senior forward Kristen Dockery, who scored four points and pulled down a career-high nine rebounds in 16 minutes, got things started with a field goal, and Buford scored five points during the surge.
Ritchie nailed a critical three-pointer from the top of the key to make it a six-point game at 73-67 with 2:46 left, but Cotton keyed a 6-2 run with four points to make it 75-73 in favor of the Phoenix with 0:48 remaining. Green Bay was able to make its free throws in the final seconds to escape with the victory and improve to 2-0.
In addition to Cotton and Buford's great games, Minnesota got nine points and eight rebounds from Voigt, who averaged 11.0 rebounds in the two games, while senior point guard China Antoine dished out a career-best eight assists and added five steals.
Minnesota shot the ball very well for the second-straight game, making 28-of-52 (.538) field goals, but the Gophers also turned the ball over 27 times, giving them 53 turnovers in the two games.
The Gophers will take Monday off before returning to practice Tuesday in preparation for a Wednesday Night home game versus Pittsburgh as part of the inaugural Super Six Series. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at Williams Arena. For ticket information, call 612.624.8080 or 1.800.U.GOPHER, or visit www.mygophersports.com.
