University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, March 4
Indianapolis, IN
University of Minnesota
52
vs
63
Penn State
Gophers Lose in Big Ten Tourney, End Season
3/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota ended its season with a 63-52 loss to Penn State in the first round of the 2010 Big Ten Conference Tournament. The Golden Gophers finished the season with a disappointing 13-17 record, their first losing season in nine years.
China Antoine led the Gophers with 12 points, all of them coming in three-point field goals. She was the only Gopher in double figures.
The Gophers were a bit turnover-prone in the early minutes of the game. Four minutes into the game, however, Minnesota put it together and strung together several minutes of solid basketball. Kiara Buford drove to the basket to score her first basket at the 15:46 mark to ignite a 12-0 run. Back-to-back three-pointers by Antoine highlighted the rally.
A Brittany McCoy lay-up at the12:10 mark put the Gophers up by 10-point margin at 16-6. The Gophers made six of their first eight field goal attempts.
The next 10 Minnesota possessions set the mood for the remainder of the game. While the Gophers missed five shots and turned the ball over five times, Penn State found its rhythm for the first time in the game. Led by six points by senior Meredith Monroe, the Lady Lions recaptured the lead with a 12-0 run of their own.
The teams exchanged the lead five times in the last five minutes of the half. The Gophers took a four-point advantage on Antoine’s third triple of the first half, but the Lady Lions quickly answered. The teams were tied at 27-27 at halftime.
Penn State (17-13) used an 8-0 run early in the second half to grab the momentum. After going scoreless in the first half, All-Big Ten guard Tyra Grant scored all of her game-high 15 points in the season half.
Seemingly every time the Gophers looked to rally, the Lady Lions were make a big play, whether it be a rebound or a basket on a tough jumper as the shot clock expired.
The Gophers chipped the deficit down to six points after two Jackie Voigt free throws with 2:24 left (58-52), but Minnesota would be shut out the rest of the way.
Penn State advances to play Iowa in the quarterfinal on Friday.
China Antoine led the Gophers with 12 points, all of them coming in three-point field goals. She was the only Gopher in double figures.
The Gophers were a bit turnover-prone in the early minutes of the game. Four minutes into the game, however, Minnesota put it together and strung together several minutes of solid basketball. Kiara Buford drove to the basket to score her first basket at the 15:46 mark to ignite a 12-0 run. Back-to-back three-pointers by Antoine highlighted the rally.
A Brittany McCoy lay-up at the12:10 mark put the Gophers up by 10-point margin at 16-6. The Gophers made six of their first eight field goal attempts.
The next 10 Minnesota possessions set the mood for the remainder of the game. While the Gophers missed five shots and turned the ball over five times, Penn State found its rhythm for the first time in the game. Led by six points by senior Meredith Monroe, the Lady Lions recaptured the lead with a 12-0 run of their own.
The teams exchanged the lead five times in the last five minutes of the half. The Gophers took a four-point advantage on Antoine’s third triple of the first half, but the Lady Lions quickly answered. The teams were tied at 27-27 at halftime.
Penn State (17-13) used an 8-0 run early in the second half to grab the momentum. After going scoreless in the first half, All-Big Ten guard Tyra Grant scored all of her game-high 15 points in the season half.
Seemingly every time the Gophers looked to rally, the Lady Lions were make a big play, whether it be a rebound or a basket on a tough jumper as the shot clock expired.
The Gophers chipped the deficit down to six points after two Jackie Voigt free throws with 2:24 left (58-52), but Minnesota would be shut out the rest of the way.
Penn State advances to play Iowa in the quarterfinal on Friday.
Players Mentioned
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