University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Ohio State
Gophers Tripped Up at No. 8/14 Ohio State
2/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2012
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Despite a career night for Micaëlla Riché and 18 points from Rachel Banham, the University of Minnesota women's basketball team dropped a Big Ten Conference contest at No. 8/14 Ohio State, 81-56, Thursday night at Value City Arena.
Riché posted her first career double-double with career highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds, while she was a flawless 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Banham extended her streak of double-digit scoring performances to 25 games and was one of five Gophers to pull down four rebounds. Jackie Voigt was the squad's second-leading rebounder with five boards.
The loss dropped Minnesota's record to 14-15 on the season and 6-9 in league action, while the Buckeyes improved to 24-4 overall and 11-4 in conference play.
In her final game at Value City Arena, Ohio State's Samantha Prahalis set a program record with 42 points and tied Minnesota's Laura Coenen, Iowa's Amy Herrig and Wisconsin's Jolene Anderson for the 10th-most points scored in a single game. Her mark also matched the fourth-highest point total in a single Big Ten game.
After falling down early, the Gophers evened the game 10-10 with 15:28 to play in the first half, but Prahalis and the Buckeyes put together a 14-0 run to take a 24-10 lead at 10:51. Minnesota answered with a 10-5 run of its own to pull within nine points of the home squad, 29-20, with a basket by Kiara Buford at 4:25, and once again cut the lead to nine thanks to a pair of free throws by the senior. But, Prahalis hit a three-pointer to make the score 36-24 with 1:06 to play in the stanza. The squads would exchange baskets before the half to head into the locker room with Ohio State leading the Gophers, 38-26.
Banham led the Maroon and Gold with nine points in the first half, while Buford and Leah Cotton added six and four points, respectively, in the half.
A slow start to open the second half put Minnesota in a 17-point hole in which it could not climb out, as they would trail the home team by as many as 28 points in the stanza.
The Gophers will close out their regular-season schedule Feb. 26 vs. Penn State in University Park, Pa. The 1:00 p.m. CT game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
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