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University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
11-2
UC Riverside
3-10
Bell, Wagner Combine for 53 in Comeback Win
12/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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The Minnesota Gophers defeated the UC Riverside Highlanders 101-75, finishing non-conference play with an 11-2 record.
Minnesota shot 45.9 percent for the game and went 14-31 on three point shots. They hit four straight threes during a 19-0 run at the end of the second quarter to erase a 15-point deficit.
Kenisha Bell scored 30 points, falling one point short of her career high of 31 points. Carlie Wagner scored 23 points passing Janel McCarville on the Gophers all-time scoring list and moved into sixth all-time. Wagner has 1,841 career points.
The Gophers had two other players hit double-digit figures with strong performances from Gadiva Hubbard (20) and Destiny Pitts (12). The Gophers have had four players hit double-digits in back-to-back games and have done so six times this season.
The Maroon and Gold scored 15 points off turnovers while going 34 minutes without a turnover during the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter: The Highlanders opened the scoring for the game, getting off to an early lead. The Gophers were able to tie things up at 7-7, but UC Riverside stayed hot and took a 28-18 lead into the second quarter.
Second Quarter: The Gophers found themselves in a hold down by 15 points in the second quarter, their highest deficit of the season. Hubbard and Wagner each hit a pair of threes with time winding down in the half as the Gophers went on a 19-0 run. Minnesota scored 29 second quarter points and led 47-42 after the second quarter.
Third Quarter: The Gophers opened the second half with a strong scoring push going on an 11-2 run to start the third quarter and never looked back. Bell took over reaching 20 points for the fourth straight game and ninth time this season. Wagner increased the lead with a fifth three-pointer and the Maroon and Gold finished the quarter up 76-58.
Fourth Quarter: Bell hit 30 points on the night with more solid attacks in the fourth. She also finished with nine assists. A late game layup from Pitts pushed the Gophers over 100 points for the fourth time this season.
MORE NOTES
• This is the fourth game this season where the Gophers have scored over 100 points.
• This game marks Bell's fourth straight game with at least 20 points.
• Wagner is within striking distance of fifth place on the Minnesota all-time scoring list. She is currently 15 points behind Linda Roberts' fifth place. Roberts played from 1977-1981.
UP NEXT
The Gophers will open Big Ten play on Dec. 28, at Northwestern. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. in Evanston, Ill.
