University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
8-4
Belmont
6-5
Edwards Scores 29 Points in Gophers Win
12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jessie Edwards scored a career-high 29 points, including important baskets down the stretch, as the University of Minnesota women's basketball team beat Belmont 75-74 in Minneapolis. The Gophers (8-4) notched their third victory against 2016 NCAA Tournament teams in the non-conference season.
Edwards scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, including a 5-for-5 performance at the free throw line late in the game. Her last two free throws put the Gophers up three with seven seconds to go. Belmont's 3-point attempt missed, and the Bruins (6-5) settled for a put-back.
Edwards shot 11-of-15 from the field and 7-of-8 from the line on the game. Her previous career was 22 points. Carlie Wagner and Kenisha Bell each scored 16 points, and Joanna Hedstrom pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds.
Darby Maggard led the Bruins with 23 points, including seven of their 12 3-pointers. Sally McCabe and Kylee Smith each had nine of Belmont's 44 rebounds. The Gophers had 40 rebounds but out-shot the Bruins 46.2 percent to 36.8 percent. Led by Edwards, Minnesota held a 44-30 advantage in inside scoring.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter: Minnesota scored the first seven points of the game, with a 3-pointer from Hubbard and two layups from Wagner. Wagner scored seven of the Gophers' points in a row after Hubbard's opening triple. Minnesota led 20-6 after an Edwards three-point play, but Belmont trimmed it to 20-13 at the end of the period.
Second Quarter: Aided by four 3-pointers, the Bruins continued their run in the second quarter. They took a 30-29 lead with 2:15 left before halftime. The teams traded the lead toward the end of the half, and Belmont carried a 37-35 advantage into the break. Wagner's 12 points and Edwards' 11 led the Gophers in the first half.
Third Quarter: Whitney Tinjum provided a spark with five straight points to give Minnesota the lead back, 45-44 with 5:43 to go. The Gophers led 54-48 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter: The Bruins tied the game at 64 with two-plus minutes left, then took a lead on free throws. Edwards made two free throws of her own to tied it at 66. The Gophers got a stop and then Edwards scored with 1:32 left. She added a three-point play after a Belmont turnover to make it 71-66. Following a Bruins 3-pointer, Kenisha Bell banked in a shot with 17 seconds remaining. Belmont was not done yet, as Maggard made a 3-pointer to cut the Gophers' lead to 73-72 with 11 seconds left.
Belmont fouled after Maggard's triple, and Edwards drained a pair of free throws at the 7.7-second mark. The Bruins' 3-point attempt missed and Lauren Thompson made a put-back with 0.4 seconds left. The Gophers advanced the ball on a timeout the clock ran out as they inbounded it.
MORE NOTES
*Minnesota is 31-6 at Williams Arena under head coach Marlene Stollings, including a 6-1 record at home this season.
*Edwards has scored in double figures three times this season. Her previous season high was 15 points.
*Hedstrom has recorded nine or more rebounds in three of the last five games.
*Bell led the Gophers in steals for the eighth time this season, with three takeaways.
