University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
2-0
VCU
1-1
Wagner, Bell Star in Win at VCU
11/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
In head coach Marlene Stollings' first meeting with her former team, Minnesota (2-0) won 79-69 at VCU (1-1). Carlie Wagner had 26 points, Kenisha Bell had 24 in her Minnesota debut, and the Gophers outscored the Rams by 20 points in the second quarter. Bell also tallied eight assists.
Jessie Edwards turned in her second career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Ten of her points came in the second half. Allina Starr added nine rebounds.
Minnesota took advantage of offensive rebounds, scoring 20 second-chance points in the road victory. The Gophers pulled down 50 rebounds to VCU's 41, and outshot the Rams 47.8 percent to 34.2 percent. Minnesota scored 46 of its points in the paint.
The Rams chipped away at the Gophers' big lead in the second half, but Minnesota extended the lead to as much as 17 before its eventual 10-point win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter: Bell scored Minnesota's first six points, including a 4-for-4 stretch at the free throw line. Minnesota trailed 13-8 before ending the quarter on a 4-0 run. Wagner split the defense for a layup, then Edwards took a charge. Brunson scored through contact to cut the lead to one.
Second Quarter: The Gophers outscored VCU 29-9 in the second quarter to build a 41-22 halftime lead. Wagner heated up with 12 points in the second quarter, bringing her halftime total to 14. Minnesota shot 59.1 percent in the second quarter, during which the defense held VCU to 22.2 percent from the floor. Also during the second quarter, the Gophers tallied 18 points in the paint and 11 points off turnovers.
Third Quarter: It was the Rams' turn to go on a run in the third. VCU cut Minnesota's lead to 10 points at 57-47. Bell and Edwards each scored six points for the Gophers during the period.
Fourth Quarter: VCU got within eight points of Minnesota, but the Maroon and Gold pushed the lead back to double digits. Wagner scored 10 of Minnesota's points in a row starting with a 3-pointer and fastbreak layup.
MORE NOTES
*Stollings coached VCU from 2012-14. In 2013-14, she led one of the top turnarounds in the nation as the Rams went 22-10 and earned a WNIT bid.
*Wagner extended her streak of double-digit scoring games to 36. She has 20 career games of 20 or more points, including both this season.
*Edwards' double-double was the second by a Gopher this season. Taiye Bello had one in the season opener against Harvard.
*Bell and Karley Barnes saw their first action of the season. Barnes tallied four points and four rebounds.
*Freshman Gadiva Hubbard returned to the site of her high school state tournament games. The Virginia Beach native and Princess Anne High School graduate notched two points in the trip to her home state.
