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University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
16-5, 5-3Big Te
Iowa
15-5, 3-4Big Te
Gophers Knock Off No. 20 Iowa, 77-72
1/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS - Five different players scored in double figures as Minnesota upset No. 20/20 Iowa with a 77-72 victory Sunday afternoon in front of a season-high crowd of 4,182 at Williams Arena.
It was the team's first win over a ranked team since knocking off No. 5 Ohio State 90-88 in overtime on Feb. 24, 2016. The victory was also the 16th of the season for the Golden Gophers (16-5, 5-3 B1G), surpassing last season's win total in 10 fewer games.
Junior Kenisha Bell led the way for Minnesota with 21 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. It was her fifth double-double of the season, tying freshman Destiny Pitts for the most on the team. Senior Carlie Wagner added 15 points, including 11 in the second half, while Pitts finished with 11 points and a career-high three blocks.
Normally led by their guards, it was Minnesota's post players that provided a boost. Sophomore Taiye Bello scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 23 minutes. Coupled with 13 points Thursday vs. Wisconsin, it was Bello's first time scoring in double figures in consecutive games in her career. Senior Bryanna Fernstrom also contributed off the bench with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Iowa (15-5, 3-4 B1G) held a 38-37 lead at halftime but Minnesota outscored the Hawkeyes 19-14 in the third quarter to take control of the contest. A jumper from Bell put the Gophers ahead for the first time at 39-38 less than a minute into the second half, eventually resulting in 56-52 edge heading into the fourth quarter.
The Gophers looked like they might put the game out of reach early in the fourth as they lead 66-58 with 6:24 to go, but Iowa quickly countered with a 9-0 over three minutes to lead 67-66 with 2:53 to play. Bell snapped the streak with a pair of free throws, giving Minnesota the lead back for good.
A strong effort at the free-throw line kept Minnesota in the lead as it made 9-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter and finished 15-of-19 at the line for the game.
Minnesota led 75-72 and Iowa had a chance to tie the game with the ball out of a timeout but the Hawkeyes threw it away and saw Wagner make both her free throws to ice the win.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair with neither team leading by more than three points until a late Iowa run saw the Hawkeyes pull ahead 20-15. Minnesota countered with the final four points to trim the Hawkeyes' lead to 20-19 after the first quarter. Five different Gophers scored, led by six from Bell.
The second quarter was more of the same with the Hawkeyes building a lead only to see the Golden Gophers keep the game tight. Iowa's biggest lead came at 36-29 with 2:25 to play, however Minnesota responded by scoring eight of the final 10 points of the opening half.
The Gophers now have a 10-day layoff before their next game. They return to the court on Jan. 31 at Wisconsin with a 7 p.m. tipoff.
