University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
6-7, 1-1Big Ten
Penn State
9-4, 1-1Big Ten
Wagner's Career Game Leads Gophers over Lady Lions
1/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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The Golden Gophers won their first Big Ten game of the season Sunday, defeating Penn State by a final score of 98-85. Minnesota (9-4, 1-1 Big Ten) led the Lady Lions (6-7, 1-1 Big Ten) the whole way. Minnesota's 98 points were its most in a Big Ten game since 2003.
Carlie Wagner led the Gophers in the win, setting new career highs in points (32), field goals (11), and 3-pointers (6). Wagner became the second Gopher player to score 30 points in a game this season, joining Rachel Banham.
Jessie Edwards also set a new career scoring high, with 22 points coming off the bench. The 38 points off the bench for the Gophers were their most this season. Edwards also tied for the team lead with eight rebounds, and went 8-for-11 at the free throw line.
Banham scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Sixteen of Banham's 20 points came in the second half. This was the 11th time this season she has scored 20 points or more in a game.
Shayne Mullaney had 10 points and five assists as well as two steals, and Mikayla Bailey added eight points.
The Gophers started the game ahead 7-0 and extended it to a 16-3 run over four minutes. Minnesota made four of its first five 3-point attempts, and Wagner made four of her first five attempts individually from beyond the arc for 12 first quarter points.
Minnesota led 47-41 at halftime on 48.6-percent shooting, and went on to connect on 50 percent of attempts in the second half. The 49.3-percent rate overall was the Maroon and Gold's best shooting game since making 50.8 percent against Auburn on Nov. 28.
The Lady Lions, led by Lindsey Spann's 30 points, cut the lead to as little as two points, but did not get closer than seven in the fourth quarter.
As a team the Gophers made 11 3-pointers. They have made 10 or more 3-pointers in five games this year, which already matches how many times they accomplished that feat last year.
This was the fourth game this season in which the Gophers scored 90 or more points, and the third game where three Gophers scored 20 or more points.
The Gophers' next game will be on the road at Illinois on Thursday at 8 p.m.
