University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
17-7, 9-4Big Te
Nebraska
16-8, 7-6Big Te
Five Gophers Reach Double-Digits in Win
2/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2016
Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery
Rachel Banham followed up her historic 60-point performance by scoring 32 and leading the Gophers to a 110-73 win over Nebraska. After a close first quarter, Minnesota (17-7, 9-4 Big Ten) took control of the game in the second quarter and cruised to their seventh win in eight games.
Minnesota's 110 points tied the most ever allowed by Nebraska (16-8, 7-6 Big Ten). Thursday was the fourth time this season the Gophers have hit triple digits, and they have recorded back-to-back 100-point games for the first time in program history.
The Maroon and Gold shot a season-best 55 percent. Banham went 12-for-20 from the field including four 3-pointers. She also led the team with five assists.
Carlie Wagner had 20 points, marking the 13th game this year in which both Banham and Wagner both scored 20 or more. Allina Starr, Mikayla Bailey, and Shayne Mullaney also finished with double-digit points, making this the fifth game this season in which five Gophers scored 10 or more.
Karley Barnes grabbed 10 rebounds and Jessie Edwards had nine rebounds along with eight points to give Minnesota an inside presence off the bench.
Jessica Shepard led the Cornhuskers with 22 points and eight rebounds. After the Huskers' leading scorer tallied 12 points in the first quarter, Minnesota limited her to 10 for the rest of the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Quarter: The opening quarter was back-and-forth, featuring 15 lead changes and neither team building a lead greater than four points. Minnesota missed its first shot but made eight in a row after that. Banham led the Gophers with seven first quarter points, and Bailey added two deep 3-pointers for six points of her own. Seven Gophers scored in the opening frame. Nebraska ended the first clinging to a 28-27 lead.
Second Quarter: Minnesota outscored Nebraska 24-5 in the second. A Barnes layup off a behind-the-back pass from Banham made it 40-29 with about six minutes left. The Gophers had opened the quarter on a 13-1 run and added a 9-0 run later to build an 18-point lead. Banham added seven points in the second for a first half total of 14 points. All Minnesota players to see time in the first half scored points, and as a team the Gophers shot 51 percent.
Third Quarter: The Gophers kept up the scoring pace in the third quarter, scoring a season-high 38 and amassing 36-point lead. Banham had 14 points, including a 3-pointer from the edge of the logo at mid-court. Wagner added 12 and Allina Starr had seven points, three of which came from an emphatic and-1 drive.
Fourth Quarter: Minnesota extended it's lead to as much as 42 points in the fourth quarter. Mullaney had six points and Danielle Garven had three points.
MORE NOTES:
*The five points scored by Nebraska in the second quarter were the fewest allowed by the Gophers in a single quarter during Big Ten play this season, and the second-fewest allowed all year after Wofford, who scored four in the second period of that game.
*The 38 points scored by Minnesota in the third quarter was the most they've scored in a quarter this season, beating the previous mark of 34 set in the fourth quarter against Towson.
*As a team the Gophers shot a season high 55-percent from the field, topping their previous high of 54 percent against Maine. Their second half field goal percentage of 60 tied their mark for best shooting in a half this season.
*The Gophers made 10 3-pointers, putting their season mark at 214 triples made, tying the program record that they set last season.
*Starr's 11 points were a season high
UP NEXT: The Gophers will stay at home, hosting Iowa on Monday. Fans are encouraged to wear pink for the Box Out Breast Cancer game. Pink shirts will be given away while supplies last, and there will also be a limited number of pink Zubaz for students. The game can be seen at 7 p.m. on BTN.
