University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
South Florida
Gophers Drop Contest to South Florida
11/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2011
The University of Minnesota women's basketball team fell to 1-2 on the season with a 60-52, loss to South Florida (1-2) Sunday afternoon on the final day of the WBI Tip Off Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Senior Kiara Buford, who led the Gophers with 16 points in the contest, was named to the WBI Tip Off Classic All-Tournament Team. The senior totaled 43 points over the weekend, to go along with 15 rebounds, 10 assists, four steals and three blocks in the trio of games.
Playing her best game of the tournament, sophomore Kionna Kellogg posted season-highs with 10 points and eight rebounds, while junior Katie Loberg once again paced the Gophers on the glass, matching Kellogg with eight rebounds and adding five points.
Sophomore Micaella Riché had seven rebounds and seven points off of the bench for the Maroon and Gold, with both freshman Rachel Banham and junior Leah Cotton contributing six points apiece.
The Gophers got off to a slow start in the opening stanza, connecting on only one field goal through the first eight minutes of the contest. With USF leading the contest 10-2, a layup by Kellogg sparked the Maroon and Gold to a 15-11 run to pull within four points of the Bulls at halftime.
A put back under the basket by Loberg and a three-point play by Buford to open the second half gave Minnesota its first lead of the game, 22-21. A pair of free throws by sophomore Sari Noga extended the Gophers' lead to three points, their largest of the afternoon, but a three pointer and a jumper by the Bulls put USF back on top, 26-24, with 17:24 remaining in the game.
A 13-0 stretch in the final minutes of regulation pulled Minnesota to within eight points with less than a minute to play. The Gophers' defense forced a turnover on the sideline with just over 20 seconds in the contest, and a layup by Riché closed the gap to six points. But, Minnesota ran out of time and would have to foul the Bulls to close out the game.
The Gophers return to Minneapolis to host the Subway Class and for their 2011-12 home-opener vs. Binghamton Nov. 19-20. Season tickets for the season are on sale now and may be purchased by calling the Golden Gopher Ticket Office at 612.624.8080 or 1.800.U.GOPHER. For 2011-12 season ticket pricing information, as well as other helpful links, visit the Women's Basketball Tickets site.
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