University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
7-418-6/ B1G
Purdue
7-416-9/ B1G
Minnesota Snaps Purdue's Home Win Streak
2/8/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Be There for Sunday's Play 4 Kay Pink Game!
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Minnesota (18-6, 7-4 Big Ten) snapped the seven-game home win streak of Purdue (16-9, 7-4) with a 78-74 victory Thursday night at Mackey Arena.
Junior Kenisha Bell led all scorers with 22 points, adding nine assists and five rebounds. She also tied a season high with five steals. The Minneapolis native was at her best over the second and third quarters, posting 14 points and four steals. It was Bell's team-leading 16th game this year with at least 20 points.
Freshman Destiny Pitts, who had scored 16 points combined in the previous three games combined, finished with 18 points, including 16 in the first half. Thirteen of her 16 first-half points came in the first quarter alone as she made 4-of-5 shots from the floor and all four free throw attempts.
Sophomore Gadiva Hubbard also reached double figures with 17 points, bolstered by a game-high three 3-pointers, and she tied a career high with five steals. Off the bench, sophomore Taiye Bello contributed nine points and 10 rebounds, helping Minnesota to a 42-31 rebounding edge for the game.
The first quarter saw a blistering offensive performance as the teams combined for 56 points, the highest combined total for Minnesota since they partnered with North Carolina for 57 points on Nov. 29. Minnesota fell behind early 7-2, but used an 11-3 run to pull in front. From there, neither team led by more than three points the rest of the quarter.
Minnesota held the lead after the opening 10 minutes at 29-27 thanks to a 3-pointer at the buzzer from senior Carlie Wagner in the corner.
After giving up 27 points and allowing 70.6 percent shooting in the first quarter, the Minnesota defense buckled down and allowed just 13 points on 31.3 percent shooting in the second quarter. Trailing 36-34 with 7:20 to play in the first half, Minnesota closed out the quarter by going on a game-turning 13-4 run. The Boilermakers made just one field goal in that stretch, including none over the final 4:06.
The Gophers kept up their momentum coming out of the locker room at halftime, using an early 14-7 run to extend a lead they would not relinquish. Minnesota led by as many as 16 in the frame, thanks in part to eight points from Bell.
Purdue made a game of it in the fourth quarter, cutting the Gophers' lead from 66-53 at the start of the fourth to 70-67 with 4:53 to play. Minnesota pushed the lead back to eight points with 2:47 to play, but the Boilermakers again fought back and trimmed the lead to three points with 15 seconds to play. Bell iced the game away though with a free throw to make it a two-possession game.
The Gophers return to the court Sunday with a home matchup against Penn State, which will be the team's annual Pink Game. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and the first 1,000 fans receive a free pink scarf. Tickets can be purchased here.
Game Notes
- Kenisha Bell has 155 assists this year, which ranks sixth best in Minnesota history
- Senior Bryanna Fernstrom tied a season high with three blocks
- The team's 214 made 3-pointers this year are tied with the 2014-15 squad for the second most in program history
- After scoring 27 points in the opening quarter, Purdue combined to score just 26 points between the second and third quarters
- Purdue's nine free throw attempts were the fewest by a Minnesota opponent this year
