University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, January 6
Williams Arena
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
62
vs
66
Illinois
Photo by: Courtney Anderson
Gophers Drop First Home Contest to Illinois
1/6/2019 6:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- No. 12/13 Minnesota (12-2, 1-2 B1G) saw its 10-game home win streak come to an end with a 66-62 loss to Illinois (9-5, 1-2) Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena.
Three Golden Gophers scored in double figures, led by 18 points from senior Annalese Lamke. All 18 came in the first half for the senior from Galesville, Wis. She was 8-of-11 from the free throw line, setting a career high for attempts and matching a personal best for makes. Lamke also had eight rebounds and a career-high three assists.
Junior Jasmine Brunson scored a career-high 17 points, including 12 in the third quarter alone. She was 7-for-11 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, to set career bests in made field goals and made 3-pointers. She also grabbed three rebounds to go with a pair of assists.
Senior Kenisha Bell logged her second double-double of the season and the ninth of her Minnesota career as she posted 14 points and a season-best 11 rebounds.
Illinois led after a tight first quarter, 13-12, but Minnesota found new life in the second quarter. Down 19-17 less than two minutes into the frame, the Gophers took control with a 16-0 run over nearly six minutes of action to pull ahead 33-19. They outscored Illinois 23-8 in the quarter, led by 10 points from Lamke, to lead 35-21 at halftime.
Minnesota's biggest lead came early in the third quarter when a 3-pointer from Brunson put the Gophers ahead 44-27 with 7:38 remaining. Illinois quickly countered though, and went on a 12-0 run over a five-plus minute stretch after the Gophers pulled ahead 46-29. Minnesota's lead was five with less than two minutes to play in the third, but a five points from Brunson down the stretch gave the team a 53-43 lead going in to the fourth quarter.
Bell hit a jumper to put Minnesota on top 55-43 with 8:37 to play in the game, but Illinois scored the next nine points to make it a 55-52 game. A 3-pointer from sophomore Destiny Pitts seemed to take momentum away from the Illini as Minnesota led 60-55 with just over four minutes to play, but Alex Wittinger countered with a 3-pointer for Illinois to kick off an 11-2 run to close out the game.
After Illinois pulled ahead 61-60 for its first lead since early in the second quarter, Bell made a jumper to give Minnesota the lead for the last time at 62-61 with just over two minutes to play. After Bell's make, Illinois' Brandi Beasley hit a pull-up on the other end to put the Illini back in front. Missed free throws and a blocked shot hindered the Gophers' chance at a comeback, while a 3-pointer by Arieal Scott with 19.5 seconds remaining proved to be the clinching shot.
Minnesota returns to action next Wednesday with a road game at No. 15/17 Michigan State (11-3, 1-2 B1G). Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on BTN Plus.
GAME NOTES
Minnesota trails in the all-time series 37-29, but still leads the series in Minneapolis 18-13 ... the loss snaps a four-game streak in the series for Minnesota and a three-game win streak at Williams Arena against Illinois ... the team's 10-game home win streak was tied for the sixth longest in program history ... Brunson's 12 points in the third quarter tied for the most by a Gopher in any quarter this season with Destiny Pitts (3rd vs. Incarnate Word) and Kenisha Bell (2nd vs. Air Force) ... with her 14 points, Bell has 1,400 for her Gophers career ... junior Taiye Bello has a team-best 10 games this year with at least double-digit rebounds after pulling down 11 Sunday ... sophomore Destiny Pitts tied a career high with five assists
Three Golden Gophers scored in double figures, led by 18 points from senior Annalese Lamke. All 18 came in the first half for the senior from Galesville, Wis. She was 8-of-11 from the free throw line, setting a career high for attempts and matching a personal best for makes. Lamke also had eight rebounds and a career-high three assists.
Junior Jasmine Brunson scored a career-high 17 points, including 12 in the third quarter alone. She was 7-for-11 from the floor, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range, to set career bests in made field goals and made 3-pointers. She also grabbed three rebounds to go with a pair of assists.
Senior Kenisha Bell logged her second double-double of the season and the ninth of her Minnesota career as she posted 14 points and a season-best 11 rebounds.
Illinois led after a tight first quarter, 13-12, but Minnesota found new life in the second quarter. Down 19-17 less than two minutes into the frame, the Gophers took control with a 16-0 run over nearly six minutes of action to pull ahead 33-19. They outscored Illinois 23-8 in the quarter, led by 10 points from Lamke, to lead 35-21 at halftime.
Minnesota's biggest lead came early in the third quarter when a 3-pointer from Brunson put the Gophers ahead 44-27 with 7:38 remaining. Illinois quickly countered though, and went on a 12-0 run over a five-plus minute stretch after the Gophers pulled ahead 46-29. Minnesota's lead was five with less than two minutes to play in the third, but a five points from Brunson down the stretch gave the team a 53-43 lead going in to the fourth quarter.
Bell hit a jumper to put Minnesota on top 55-43 with 8:37 to play in the game, but Illinois scored the next nine points to make it a 55-52 game. A 3-pointer from sophomore Destiny Pitts seemed to take momentum away from the Illini as Minnesota led 60-55 with just over four minutes to play, but Alex Wittinger countered with a 3-pointer for Illinois to kick off an 11-2 run to close out the game.
After Illinois pulled ahead 61-60 for its first lead since early in the second quarter, Bell made a jumper to give Minnesota the lead for the last time at 62-61 with just over two minutes to play. After Bell's make, Illinois' Brandi Beasley hit a pull-up on the other end to put the Illini back in front. Missed free throws and a blocked shot hindered the Gophers' chance at a comeback, while a 3-pointer by Arieal Scott with 19.5 seconds remaining proved to be the clinching shot.
Minnesota returns to action next Wednesday with a road game at No. 15/17 Michigan State (11-3, 1-2 B1G). Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on BTN Plus.
GAME NOTES
Minnesota trails in the all-time series 37-29, but still leads the series in Minneapolis 18-13 ... the loss snaps a four-game streak in the series for Minnesota and a three-game win streak at Williams Arena against Illinois ... the team's 10-game home win streak was tied for the sixth longest in program history ... Brunson's 12 points in the third quarter tied for the most by a Gopher in any quarter this season with Destiny Pitts (3rd vs. Incarnate Word) and Kenisha Bell (2nd vs. Air Force) ... with her 14 points, Bell has 1,400 for her Gophers career ... junior Taiye Bello has a team-best 10 games this year with at least double-digit rebounds after pulling down 11 Sunday ... sophomore Destiny Pitts tied a career high with five assists
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's BasketballGophers Preview Season Opener
Tuesday, October 28
Making Connections: Makena Christian & Grace Grocholski
Tuesday, October 28
Gopher Practice on VHS
Tuesday, October 28
Making Connections: Brylee Glenn & Niamya Holloway
Wednesday, October 22