University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Northwestern
Loberg Leads Minnesota to 63-58 Win Over Wildcats
1/28/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sophomore forward Katie Loberg scored a team-high 19 points, while junior guard Kiara Buford had 18 points and four steals, as Minnesota rallied from a four-point halftime deficit to snap a seven-game losing streak and defeat Northwestern, 63-58.
The Gophers also received a career-best 15 rebounds and eight points from freshman guard/forward Kionna Kellogg, who was making her second career start, while junior forward Jackie Voigt added 10 points and 10 rebounds for her fourth career double-double.
The win improved Minnesota's record to 9-12 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten, while Northwestern dropped its third-straight game to fall to 14-7 overall and 3-5 in the conference. The Gophers also improved to 15-2 all-time, including 8-0 at Williams Arena, versus Northwestern under head coach Pam Borton.
"I think we had forgotten how good it feels to win a basketball game, and I think it's going to make it easier for them to come to practice tomorrow," Borton said. "I am really glad that all of their hard work and them staying positive is going to help them continue to get better. We just need to get over the hump. Every Big Ten game is going to be like this. We learned to finish the game."
Minnesota jumped out to an early 10-6 lead behind eight early points from Loberg. The Wildcats pulled to within 10-8, but the Gophers went on a 7-2 run, with Voigt making a three-pointer among her five points during the stretch to push the lead to 17-10 at the 11:05 mark.
Northwestern answered with a 9-0 run to take its first lead, 19-17, on a trey by Amy Jaeschke with 7:49 remaining in the half. The Wildcats pulled ahead 26-21, with Jaeschke adding five more points, but Minnesota closed the gap to 26-25 on baskets by Buford and sophomore guard Leah Cotton. At the half, the Gophers trailed, 31-27.
Jaeschke led the Wildcats with 15 first-half points, but she was held without a rebound despite being among the Big Ten's leaders in the category at 9.4 per game. Loberg led the Gophers with 10 points and four rebounds in the opening half.
"(Jaeschke) is obviously a real great player. I just started playing physical right from the start," Loberg said. "It frustrated her and then she came back and scored a few points and I scored a few points. I owe that to my teammates they were finding me in all the open spots. It was a really fun game. "
Minnesota opened the second half with an 8-0 run to pull ahead by a score of 35-31, with Buford scoring four points. Then, with Minnesota holding a 40-39 edge, the Gophers stretched their lead to seven points at 48-41 at the 4:58 mark on a basket by Kellogg.
Down the stretch, the Gophers could easily have succumbed to the pressure Northwestern's defense was exerting, but this time Minnesota held on by scoring enough points in key moments to walk off the court victorious.
The Wildcats were led by Jaeschke's game-high 26 points, but the 6-5 center was held to five total rebounds, well below her season average. As a team, Minnesota held a 46-34 advantage in rebounding, with Kellogg's effort being the first time a Gopher had finished with 15 rebounds since Ashley Ellis-Milan pulled down 15 boards in a 68-65 win versus North Dakota State on Nov. 20, 2007.
"Wow, (Kionna) did great, but she still has a lot of work to do," Borton said. "She knows, because she has her head on straight. She is going to be a special player, for her to come in a do what she did. The reason she is successful is because her skill is catching up to the pace of the game. She is playing hard, and playing tough."
Tonight's game, which was streamed live on BigTenNetwork.com, will be shown on the Big Ten Network on Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. (CST).
The Gophers remain home to play host to the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday, Jan. 30, at 2:00 p.m. (CST). For ticket information, call the Golden Gopher Ticket Office at 612.624.8080 or 1.800.U.GOPHER, or visit www.mygophersports.com.
