University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, November 29
Williams Arena
7:30 PM
University of Minnesota
72
vs
68
Syracuse
1
2
3
4
F
Syracuse
14
17
15
22
68
Minnesota
23
13
14
22
72
Photo by: Bruce Kluckhohn
No. 20 Minnesota Takes Down No. 12 Syracuse, 72-68
11/29/2018 10:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- No. 20 Minnesota (6-0) used a fourth-quarter rally to knock off No. 12 Syracuse (6-2) and stay undefeated with a 72-68 victory Thursday night at Williams Arena in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The Golden Gophers led for most of the contest, including by as many as 12 in the first half, and entered the fourth quarter up 50-46. They held a 55-48 advantage with 8:56 to play in the game, but Syracuse responded with a 13-0 run to lead 61-55 with 3:36 to play. When a layup from Amaya Finklea-Guity put the Orange up 57-55 with 4:43 to play, it was the team's first lead since 2-0.
Minnesota threw a counter-punch, though, as they responded to the 13-0 run with a 12-0 spurt of its own to put the game away. Sophomore Destiny Pitts hit a 3-pointer to start the rally, while senior Kenisha Bell had eight of the team's 12 points.Â
After Pitts' 3-pointer, senior Annalese Lamke blocked a shot and Bell took it the other way for a layup. A Syracuse turnover was followed by two-point basket by Bell, putting Minnesota back on top. She made another free throw along with junior Taiye Bello, and then Bell scored on an emphatic and-one basket to make it a 67-61 lead for the Gophers.
Three times Syracuse got within four points the rest of the way, but that would be as close as they could get as Minnesota snapped a three-game losing streak in the annual challenge between teams from the Big Ten and the ACC. The Gophers are now 5-7 all-time in the event.
The Gophers are now 6-0 for the fifth time in program history. In addition, it was the team's first win in a top-25 matchup since Jan. 15, 2006, snapping a five-game losing streak in such games. Minnesota has won five of its last seven games against ranked teams, dating back to January of last season.
Bell led all scorers with 24 points, her third 20-point game of the season, grabbed nine rebounds and had three assists. Eleven of her 24 points came in the fourth quarter alone.
Bello notched her fourth double-double of the season as she posted a career-high 20 points and was one off her career high in rebounds with 18. Ten of her 18 rebounds came on the offensive end, and she was 8-of-11 from the free throw line, setting career highs for makes and attempts.
Lamke was one point away from her first career double-double as she tallied nine points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while Pitts reached double figures with 10 points and tied a career high with five assists.
As a team, the Gophers tied a season high with their 50 rebounds, including a season-best 23 on the offensive end. For comparison, Syracuse was limited to just 33 rebounds with 10 being offensive. In addition to rebounds, Minnesota held a sizable edge at the free throw line, making 23 of 31 attempts, while the Orange were just 5-of-6.
Minnesota set the tone early, leading 17-6 with 2:32 to play in the first quarter. Syracuse chipped away at the lead in the second quarter, coming to within three at 34-31 with 2:29 to play in the first half.Â
Once the second half started, Minnesota saw its lead grow again as a free throw from Bello had the team in front 44-33 midway through the third. But Syracuse used a 12-4 run to make it a three-point lead once again with less than two minutes to go until the fourth quarter.
GAME NOTES
Thursday was the first ever meeting between the schools ... Minnesota is 26-17 all-time against teams from the ACC, including wins in three of the last four matchups ... Bell's 11 points in the fourth quarter were the most by a Gopher in any quarter this season ... Bell was 5-of-7 at the line and now has attempted 494 free throws in her Gophers career, passing Ellen Kramer (493) for eighth in team history ... Bello's 10 offensive rebounds give her 228 for her career, jumping her from 11th to ninth in team history, passing Jackie Voigt (219) and Jessie Edwards (227)
The Golden Gophers led for most of the contest, including by as many as 12 in the first half, and entered the fourth quarter up 50-46. They held a 55-48 advantage with 8:56 to play in the game, but Syracuse responded with a 13-0 run to lead 61-55 with 3:36 to play. When a layup from Amaya Finklea-Guity put the Orange up 57-55 with 4:43 to play, it was the team's first lead since 2-0.
Minnesota threw a counter-punch, though, as they responded to the 13-0 run with a 12-0 spurt of its own to put the game away. Sophomore Destiny Pitts hit a 3-pointer to start the rally, while senior Kenisha Bell had eight of the team's 12 points.Â
After Pitts' 3-pointer, senior Annalese Lamke blocked a shot and Bell took it the other way for a layup. A Syracuse turnover was followed by two-point basket by Bell, putting Minnesota back on top. She made another free throw along with junior Taiye Bello, and then Bell scored on an emphatic and-one basket to make it a 67-61 lead for the Gophers.
Three times Syracuse got within four points the rest of the way, but that would be as close as they could get as Minnesota snapped a three-game losing streak in the annual challenge between teams from the Big Ten and the ACC. The Gophers are now 5-7 all-time in the event.
The Gophers are now 6-0 for the fifth time in program history. In addition, it was the team's first win in a top-25 matchup since Jan. 15, 2006, snapping a five-game losing streak in such games. Minnesota has won five of its last seven games against ranked teams, dating back to January of last season.
Bell led all scorers with 24 points, her third 20-point game of the season, grabbed nine rebounds and had three assists. Eleven of her 24 points came in the fourth quarter alone.
Bello notched her fourth double-double of the season as she posted a career-high 20 points and was one off her career high in rebounds with 18. Ten of her 18 rebounds came on the offensive end, and she was 8-of-11 from the free throw line, setting career highs for makes and attempts.
Lamke was one point away from her first career double-double as she tallied nine points and a career-high 13 rebounds, while Pitts reached double figures with 10 points and tied a career high with five assists.
As a team, the Gophers tied a season high with their 50 rebounds, including a season-best 23 on the offensive end. For comparison, Syracuse was limited to just 33 rebounds with 10 being offensive. In addition to rebounds, Minnesota held a sizable edge at the free throw line, making 23 of 31 attempts, while the Orange were just 5-of-6.
Minnesota set the tone early, leading 17-6 with 2:32 to play in the first quarter. Syracuse chipped away at the lead in the second quarter, coming to within three at 34-31 with 2:29 to play in the first half.Â
Once the second half started, Minnesota saw its lead grow again as a free throw from Bello had the team in front 44-33 midway through the third. But Syracuse used a 12-4 run to make it a three-point lead once again with less than two minutes to go until the fourth quarter.
GAME NOTES
Thursday was the first ever meeting between the schools ... Minnesota is 26-17 all-time against teams from the ACC, including wins in three of the last four matchups ... Bell's 11 points in the fourth quarter were the most by a Gopher in any quarter this season ... Bell was 5-of-7 at the line and now has attempted 494 free throws in her Gophers career, passing Ellen Kramer (493) for eighth in team history ... Bello's 10 offensive rebounds give her 228 for her career, jumping her from 11th to ninth in team history, passing Jackie Voigt (219) and Jessie Edwards (227)
Team Stats
F-688
F-428
FG%
.446
.348
3FG%
.227
.231
FT%
.833
.742
RB
33
50
TO
12
13
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballG/F
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