University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Virginia Tech
Buford Shines as Minnesota Defeats Virginia Tech
12/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Junior guard Kiara Buford scored a career-high 27 points, as Minnesota's women's basketball team built a big lead early in the game, then held on for a 63-58 victory against Virginia Tech in the ACC / Big Ten Challenge at Williams Arena Thursday night.
The victory marked Minnesota's second-straight against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference, as the Gophers defeated North Carolina State, 71-67, last Saturday at the Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev. The Gophers improved to 2-2 in the fourth year of the ACC / Big Ten Challenge.
Minnesota jumped out to a 23-6 lead to start the game, with Buford doing much of the damage for the Golden Gophers. After failing to reach double figures for the first time this season during the win versus N.C. State, Buford scored 11 points during the opening run on her way to 15 points at the break.
But Virginia Tech used a 10-0 run to get back into the game, cutting Minnesota's advantage to seven points at 23-16. The Hokies twice pulled within four points, at 26-22 and 28-24, but Minnesota went to the locker room with a 30-24 lead. As a team at the half, Minnesota had managed to make just 12-of-30 (.400) field goals, but Buford was 7-of-13 with three steals in the opening 20 minutes.
The Hokies opened the second half with a 5-0 run to get within one point, 30-29, but they were never able to get the lead, as Buford and senior guard China Antoine hit back-to-back treys to stretch Minnesota's advantage back to five points, 36-31.
The Gophers hit another three-pointer, this one along the left baseline by junior forward Jackie Voigt, to get it back to a 10-point lead at 45-35. But the Hokies wouldn't go away, mounting a 9-2 surge to cut it to 47-44 with 9:41 left in the game.
Minnesota answered with an 8-1 run which included two field goals by freshman forward Micaëlla Riché, who scored a career-high seven points and grabbed four rebounds, all in the second half.
Buford finished with her career-high point total, making 10-of-18 field goals and adding five assists, four rebounds, and three steals in 37 minutes for the Gophers. Voigt ended the night with nine points and a game-high nine rebounds, and now has eight or more boards in five of Minnesota's eight games this season. Sophomore guard Leah Cotton came off the bench to chip in with eight points and four rebounds.
Virginia Tech (4-3) was led by 14 points from Aerial Wilson, while Alyssa Fenyn added 12 points and seven boards. The Hokies were held to 39.0 percent shooting in the game.
The Gophers will now travel to Waco, Texas, for Sunday's Big Ten / Big XII Challenge game versus third-ranked Baylor (8-1) and All-American Brittney Griner. The Lady Bears' lone loss this season was a one-point setback versus two-time defending national champion Connecticut.
