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University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
19-6, 8-4Big Te
Penn State
14-12, 5-8Big T
Gophers Pour It On for Pink Game
2/11/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats | Photo Gallery | Quotes
Gophers Host #21 Michigan Wednesday Night at the Barn
MINNEAPOLIS - Five players scored in double figures as Minnesota roared past Penn State, 101-68, Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena.
The contest was Minnesota's annual Pink Game to raise cancer awareness. In a pregame ceremony, the team donated a pair of $3000 checks for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. One check was raised by the players as each gave $250 from their scholarship money, while head coach Marlene Stollings matched that total.
Donning pink jerseys for the game, the Gophers eclipsed the century mark for the fifth time this year and the first time in conference play since the 2015-16 season. Additionally, the game marked the first time that Penn State had allowed 100 points in Big Ten action since joining the league prior to the 1992-93 season.
Gophers' sophomore Gadiva Hubbard matched a season high with 25 points to lead all scorers. It was her third time reaching that figure this season, also doing so at North Carolina on Nov. 29 and against Wake Forest on Nov. 25. She was a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point range and finished 10-of-13 from the field.
Junior Kenisha Bell posted her team-leading sixth double-double of the season as she recorded 15 points and 10 assists, which tied a season high, while freshman Destiny Pitts added 17 points, seven rebounds and a pair of steals.
Additionally, senior Carlie Wagner and sophomore Jasmine Brunson each contributed with 11 points. Wagner added seven rebounds, while Brunson's point total was a season high. Senior Jessie Edwards was the team's top rebounder as she came down with eight rebounds to go along with seven points.
The team hit on 13-of-23 attempts (56.5 percent) from 3-point range during the game and shot 50.7 percent from the floor. The Gophers also outrebounded the Lady Lions, 53-34.
Minnesota came out on fire, opening the game on a 12-2 run. The lead grew to as many as 15 points as the Gophers ended the first quarter with a 33-18 lead. The 33 first quarter points tied for the most in an opening quarter by Minnesota this year and tied for the second most in any quarter. The team made 11-of-20 baskets (55.0 percent), including six 3-pointers.
As strong as the offense was in the first quarter, Minnesota's defense was just as dominant in the second quarter. The Gophers held Penn State to just eight points, tied for the fewest by a Minnesota opponent in any quarter this season. The Lady Lions made just 4-of-17 shots in the quarter and committed four turnovers as the Golden Gophers went into the locker room with a 55-26 lead.
Seven different players scored for Minnesota in third quarter as it extended its lead to 78-42, while the team's largest lead came midway through the fourth quarter it pulled ahead 90-49 on a 3-pointer from Hubbard.
The Golden Gophers continue their four game homestand on Wednesday when No. 20/21 Michigan visits Williams Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Game Notes
- Wagner's 72 3-pointers this year are tied for seventh most in a season at Minnesota with Shannon Schonrock in 2003-04.
- Bell passed Lindsay Whalen (159 in 2001-02) for fifth most assists in a season and now has 165 on the year.
