University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
7-3
Army West Point
7-2
Gophers Beat Army 70-52
12/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The University of Minnesota (7-3) women's basketball team defeated Army West Point (7-2) 70-52 on Thursday night in Minneapolis. It was Minnesota's second win against a 2016 NCAA Tournament team this season.
Minnesota's defense held Army to 15 points in the first half, the lowest-scoring half by a Gophers opponent this year, including only five in the second quarter. The Maroon and Gold held off a second-half run by the Black Knights to win by 18. The Gophers shot 42.4 percent while holding Army West Point to 19.8 percent.
With the win, Marlene Stollings became the second-fastest coach in program history to reach 50 victories, doing so in 75 games. The Golden Gophers moved to 30-6 at home in the past three seasons.
Carlie Wagner scored 20 points, Gadiva Hubbard 18 and Kenisha Bell 15. Jessie Edwards had a career-high eight of the Gophers' 11 blocks.
Madison Hovren led Army with 17 points and 17 rebounds. Overall the Black Knights had a 55-49 rebounding advantage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter: The Gophers attacked the basket early in the game, scoring their first 10 points in the point. Minnesota shot 8-for-12 in the opening period, including a 3-for-4 quarter for Bell. Army West Point made only two field goals in the first and the Gophers led
Second Quarter: The Gophers again held the Black Knights to two field goals in the second quarter. Army shot 4-for-35 overall in the first half. Minnesota started to mix in an outside game in the second. Wagner made the Gophers' first 3-point attempt of the game at the 8:34 mark, and Hubbard hit one a few minutes later to put the Gophers up 29-12. The Maroon and Gold continued to drive to the basket, and draw fouls doing so. Minnesota shot 10-of-13 from the free throw line in the first half, including a 5-for-5 mark for Hubbard, who had 12 first-half points to contribute to the 38-15 halftime lead.
Third Quarter: Army scored 22 points in the third to cut the Gophers' lead to 53-37. Minnesota had five blocks in the quarter, including four by Edwards.
Fourth Quarter: The Black Knights could not get closer than 16 points, and the Gophers led by as much as 24 in the fourth.
MORE NOTES
*Wagner has scored 10 or more points in 44 consecutive games. She and Bell have reached double figures in every game they have played this season.
*Edwards has three games this year with at least four blocks.
*Bell had five assists Thursday night and has led the Gophers in that category in all nine games she has played. She tied her season high with four steals, a number she has reached three times.
COMING UP NEXT
Minnesota will face No. 6 South Carolina on the road on Sunday, Dec. 11. The game will tip off at 2 p.m. CT and air on the SEC Network. The Gophers return home for a Dec. 14 noon game against Belmont.
