University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, January 31
Williams Arena
University of Minnesota
48
vs
61
Illinois
Second-Half Woes Lead to Gophers' Defeat
2/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Illinois opened the second half with a 17-0 run to take control of the game and hand Minnesota its fourth consecutive loss by a 61-48 score. Katie Ohm was the only Golden Gopher in double figures with 11 points, including three field goals from behind the arc.
Minnesota (11-10, 4-6) took the momentum into halftime scoring the last eight points to turn an eight-point deficit into a four-point lead. Back-to-back three-point field goals by Kiara Buford and Ohm send the Gophers into intermission with a 30-26 lead.
The momentum quickly shifted to the Illini (12-9, 4-7) in the second half. Illinois looked immediately to senior All-American Jenna Smith, who scored 24 seconds into the second half after taking only three in the first half and her first almost 12 minutes into the game. Smith would go on to score 14 of her game-high 18 points in the second half. She would also tally a double-double with 14 rebounds.
Smith’s basket ignited the Illini’s 17-0 run during which Minnesota missed its first nine shots in the period and turned the ball over five times. Minnesota would not score until the 13:50 mark when Zoe Harper banked in a left-handed lay-in off an assist by Brittany McCoy.
The Gophers would cut the Illinois lead to nine points twice the remainder of the game but could never muster a serious comeback effort. The Illini made seven of their first eight shots in the second half and finished shooting 59.1 percent for the period.
Brittany McCoy had a decent game dishing out eight assists (Minnesota only had 17 field goals) with three steals. McCoy now has 100 assists on the season becoming the first Gopher to hit triple digits totals in assists in four seasons of a career.
Minnesota’s starting lineup hoped the return of China Antoine from a knee injury would bolster the scoring, but instead the starters shot just 23.7 percent (9-38) from the field. The Gophers shot just 24 percent (6-25) in the second half and 29.8 percent for the game. The Gophers also only made 11 trips to the free throw line.
Both teams committed 19 turnovers, but how Illinois converted Minnesota miscues into points was a major factor in the game’s outcome. The Illini outscored the Gophers 21-5 in points off turnovers. Lacey Simpson led Illinois with four steals in addition to her impressive offensive production of 15 points and eight assists.
Ohm collected her 27th career game where she hit three or more three-point field goals in a game.
Minnesota plays host to Wisconsin on Thursday, Feb. 4.
Minnesota (11-10, 4-6) took the momentum into halftime scoring the last eight points to turn an eight-point deficit into a four-point lead. Back-to-back three-point field goals by Kiara Buford and Ohm send the Gophers into intermission with a 30-26 lead.
The momentum quickly shifted to the Illini (12-9, 4-7) in the second half. Illinois looked immediately to senior All-American Jenna Smith, who scored 24 seconds into the second half after taking only three in the first half and her first almost 12 minutes into the game. Smith would go on to score 14 of her game-high 18 points in the second half. She would also tally a double-double with 14 rebounds.
Smith’s basket ignited the Illini’s 17-0 run during which Minnesota missed its first nine shots in the period and turned the ball over five times. Minnesota would not score until the 13:50 mark when Zoe Harper banked in a left-handed lay-in off an assist by Brittany McCoy.
The Gophers would cut the Illinois lead to nine points twice the remainder of the game but could never muster a serious comeback effort. The Illini made seven of their first eight shots in the second half and finished shooting 59.1 percent for the period.
Brittany McCoy had a decent game dishing out eight assists (Minnesota only had 17 field goals) with three steals. McCoy now has 100 assists on the season becoming the first Gopher to hit triple digits totals in assists in four seasons of a career.
Minnesota’s starting lineup hoped the return of China Antoine from a knee injury would bolster the scoring, but instead the starters shot just 23.7 percent (9-38) from the field. The Gophers shot just 24 percent (6-25) in the second half and 29.8 percent for the game. The Gophers also only made 11 trips to the free throw line.
Both teams committed 19 turnovers, but how Illinois converted Minnesota miscues into points was a major factor in the game’s outcome. The Illini outscored the Gophers 21-5 in points off turnovers. Lacey Simpson led Illinois with four steals in addition to her impressive offensive production of 15 points and eight assists.
Ohm collected her 27th career game where she hit three or more three-point field goals in a game.
Minnesota plays host to Wisconsin on Thursday, Feb. 4.
Players Mentioned
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