University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, January 17
Madison, Wis.
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
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Wisconsin
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Bell's Big Night Helps Send Gophers Past Badgers
1/17/2019 9:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MADISON, Wis. -- Senior guard Kenisha Bell posted her third double-double of the season, and two other Gophers nearly joined her with double-doubles of their own, as No. 23/25 Minnesota defeated Wisconsin, 78-50, Thursday night at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
The victory helped the Golden Gophers snap a four-game losing streak and improve their record to 13-4 overall on the year and 2-4 in Big Ten play. Wisconsin dropped to 10-8 this season and 1-5 in league action with the loss. The Gophers have posted 13 straight victories over the Badgers, their longest active streak against one other program, and have won six in a row in Madison, their longest active road win streak versus one team.
Bell led all scorers with 25 points and tied a career high with 10 assists, her fifth time reaching double digits in her carer. All three of her double-doubles have come in Big Ten play this year and she has 10 in her career now with the Gophers going 8-2 in those contests. Both of her previous double-doubles this season were of the point-rebound variety, making Thursday night her first point-assist double-double since going for 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Big Ten Tournament last season.
Bell was an efficient 8-of-14 from the floor and was 8-of-10 at free throw line. Her 25 points also upped her career scoring total at Minnesota to 1,467, passing Emily Fox (1,449) for 10th place on the Gophers' all-time scoring list.
Playing in her home state for what could be the final time in her career, senior Annalese Lamke nearly notched the first double-double of her career. A native of Galesville, Wis., Lamke posted 15 points and nine rebounds. In two games this season against the Badgers, Lamke averaged 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Junior Taiye Bello was the third Gopher to reach double figures as she scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds, nearly missing out on her eighth double-double of the season.
The Gophers never trailed Thursday night, scoring the first five points of the contest and opening the game on an 11-2 run. They led 17-10 after the first quarter and then outscored the Badgers 18-7 in the second quarter to lead 35-17 at the half. It was the lowest scoring half by an opponent since Incarnate Word was held to 11 points in the first half on Dec. 5.
The Minnesota defense forced 16 Wisconsin turnovers in the game, including six in the first quarter alone and 10 in the first half. Junior Jasmine Brunson tied a career high with four steals in the contest.
Wisconsin never got closer than 16 points in the second half, while the Gophers' biggest lead came on a 3-pointer by freshman Mercedes Staples that put them up 74-41 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
Nine different Gophers scored in the win, including six points from senior Irene Garrido Perez on a pair of 3-pointers and five points each for Staples and sophomore Destiny Pitts.
Minnesota has a quick turnaround as they play Nebraska (8-9, 3-3 B1G) Sunday night on ESPN2. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
Minnesota leads the all-time series 42-35, their most wins against one team ... the Gophers improved to 3-2 on the road this season ... as a team, Minnesota was 6-of-10 from 3-point range to tie for the seventh best shooting percentage on 3-pointers in a game in program history (min. 10 attempts) ... it was the best percentage since a school record .667 (8-of-12) against Iowa on Feb. 17, 2015 ... senior Irene Garrido Perez set a career high with four rebounds
The victory helped the Golden Gophers snap a four-game losing streak and improve their record to 13-4 overall on the year and 2-4 in Big Ten play. Wisconsin dropped to 10-8 this season and 1-5 in league action with the loss. The Gophers have posted 13 straight victories over the Badgers, their longest active streak against one other program, and have won six in a row in Madison, their longest active road win streak versus one team.
Bell led all scorers with 25 points and tied a career high with 10 assists, her fifth time reaching double digits in her carer. All three of her double-doubles have come in Big Ten play this year and she has 10 in her career now with the Gophers going 8-2 in those contests. Both of her previous double-doubles this season were of the point-rebound variety, making Thursday night her first point-assist double-double since going for 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Big Ten Tournament last season.
Bell was an efficient 8-of-14 from the floor and was 8-of-10 at free throw line. Her 25 points also upped her career scoring total at Minnesota to 1,467, passing Emily Fox (1,449) for 10th place on the Gophers' all-time scoring list.
Playing in her home state for what could be the final time in her career, senior Annalese Lamke nearly notched the first double-double of her career. A native of Galesville, Wis., Lamke posted 15 points and nine rebounds. In two games this season against the Badgers, Lamke averaged 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Junior Taiye Bello was the third Gopher to reach double figures as she scored 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds, nearly missing out on her eighth double-double of the season.
The Gophers never trailed Thursday night, scoring the first five points of the contest and opening the game on an 11-2 run. They led 17-10 after the first quarter and then outscored the Badgers 18-7 in the second quarter to lead 35-17 at the half. It was the lowest scoring half by an opponent since Incarnate Word was held to 11 points in the first half on Dec. 5.
The Minnesota defense forced 16 Wisconsin turnovers in the game, including six in the first quarter alone and 10 in the first half. Junior Jasmine Brunson tied a career high with four steals in the contest.
Wisconsin never got closer than 16 points in the second half, while the Gophers' biggest lead came on a 3-pointer by freshman Mercedes Staples that put them up 74-41 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
Nine different Gophers scored in the win, including six points from senior Irene Garrido Perez on a pair of 3-pointers and five points each for Staples and sophomore Destiny Pitts.
Minnesota has a quick turnaround as they play Nebraska (8-9, 3-3 B1G) Sunday night on ESPN2. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT.
GAME NOTES
Minnesota leads the all-time series 42-35, their most wins against one team ... the Gophers improved to 3-2 on the road this season ... as a team, Minnesota was 6-of-10 from 3-point range to tie for the seventh best shooting percentage on 3-pointers in a game in program history (min. 10 attempts) ... it was the best percentage since a school record .667 (8-of-12) against Iowa on Feb. 17, 2015 ... senior Irene Garrido Perez set a career high with four rebounds
Team Stats
F-428
F-796
FG%
.491
.385
3FG%
.600
.222
FT%
.727
.381
RB
37
28
TO
12
16
STL
6
9
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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