University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Wisconsin
Minnesota's Rally at Wisconsin Falls Just Short
1/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit on Sunday afternoon, pulling to within three points in the late stages of their game at Wisconsin, but the Badgers made enough free throws to hold on for a 47-42 win at the Kohl Center.
Junior guard Kiara Buford led the Gophers with 17 points, 12 of which came in the second half, while freshman guard Sari Noga came off the bench for eight points. Redshirt freshman center Amber Dvorak tied for game-high honors with seven rebounds, as Minnesota held a 40-25 advantage on the glass.
But the Badgers were able to hang on behind a game-high 21 points from center senior Lin Zastrow, who had missed Wisconsin's loss at Michigan State on Thursday night with a head injury. Senior guard Alyssa Karel added 12 points for the Badgers.
Minnesota took a 3-2 lead on a trey by Buford, but that was the Gophers' lone field goal over the first 8:05, as the Badgers jumped out to a 9-3 lead at the second media timeout of the half.
A pair of free throws by sophomore guard Leah Cotton cut it to 9-5, but Minnesota was 1-of-12 from the field and committed nine turnovers in falling behind, 13-6.
The Gophers fought back to within one point, 13-12, on a layup by Dvorak, a pair of free throws by freshman forward Kionna Kellogg, and a layup by Buford with 3:47 remaining before the break.
But the Badgers closed the first half on a 6-2 run to take a 19-14 lead into the locker room. The Gophers played well enough on defense to remain within five points at the half despite making just 4-of-24 (.167) field goals. Minnesota forced the Badgers into 12 first-half turnovers and held them to 8-of-19 (.421) field goals, including just 1-of-8 (.125) treys.
Wisconsin stretched its lead to double-figures early in the second half, taking a 28-16 advantage with 16:06 left and then outscoring the Gophers 8-2 over the next 5:17 to lead 36-18 with 10:49 left.
But Minnesota responded with a 14-4 run over the next 4:50 to pull within eight points, 40-32, and force the Badgers to call a timeout with 5:59 left. Buford scored the first seven points during the stretch, while Noga added five points, and both players hitting a three-pointer.
Buford made another three-pointer from the top of the key with 5:28 left, and then added two free throws at the 4:07 mark to pull within three points, 40-37. But the Badgers made enough free throws down the stretch to hold on despite being held without a field goal over the final 10:00 of the game.
As a team, Minnesota made 14-of 49 (.286) field goals, but five of those were from beyond the arc, which enabled the Gophers to cut down on Wisconsin's large lead. The Gophers also struggled at the free throw line, though, missing chances to get even closer late in the game, and finished just 9-of-16 (.563) at the stripe.
Wisconsin didn't fare much better by making just 14-of-40 (.350) field goals, including an ice cold 3-of-16 (.188) from long-distance, and 16-of-24 (.667) free throws. The Badgers were outscored, 24-11, over the game's final 10:49, with all but two points coming at the foul line.
The Gophers next travel to State College, Pa., to face Penn State on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. (CST).
