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University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
24-9
Oregon
32-4
Minnesota's NCAA Run Ends in Second Round
3/19/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2 | Postgame Quotes
EUGENE, Ore. - The No. 10 seed Minnesota women's basketball team saw its run in the NCAA Tournament come to an end in the second round, its best finish in nine years, after a 101-73 loss to second-seeded Oregon (32-4) Sunday night in Eugene, Ore.
Making its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, Minnesota finished the season with a 24-9 record, its most wins and best winning percentage (.727) in 13 years.
In addition, the team recorded single-season program records for points scored (2,803), points per game (84.9), 3-pointers made (297), field goals made (997) and fewest turnovers (412).
The Golden Gophers saw four players reach double figures Sunday night, led by senior Carlie Wagner's team-high 20 points. She connected on a program tournament record with six 3-pointers, while the 12 made by the team was also the most for a Minnesota team in a tournament game.
Freshman Destiny Pitts scored 17 points, including four 3-pointers, while junior Kenisha Bell added 14 and led the team with eight assists and five rebounds. Sophomore Taiye Bello also reached double figures by adding 10 points off the bench.
The turning point of the game came late in the second quarter. After Minnesota cut the lead to 41-36, Oregon embarked on a 16-0 run over a 4:26 stretch between the second and third quarters. The run eventually reached 23-3 to put the Ducks up 64-39 less than three minutes into the second half. Minnesota did not get closer than 23 points the rest of the way.
Oregon was led by Sabrina Ionescu, who had 29 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, while Ruthy Hebard added 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Minnesota is set to return nine of its 12 players next season, losing seniors Jessie Edwards, Bryanna Fernstrom and Wagner, who ends her career as the program's third-leading scorer with 2,215 career points.
