University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, December 28
University Park, Pa.
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
11-1,1-0Big Ten
81
at
74
Penn State
6-6,0-1Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Minnesota
28
26
8
19
81
Penn St.
10
11
19
34
74
Photo by: Tony Eaton
Hot Start Carries Minnesota to Win in Big Ten Opener at Penn State
12/28/2019 6:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- RV/RV Minnesota rode a hot start to defeat Penn State (6-6, 0-1 B1G) in each team's Big Ten opener, 81-74, Saturday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa.
The win was the 11th in a row for Minnesota (11-1, 1-0) and its fifth straight against the Lady Lions. It also marked the third straight season the Gophers have won their Big Ten opener.
Freshman Sara Scalia (22) and junior Destiny Pitts (21) posted their third and fifth 20-point games of the season, respectively, to lead the Gophers' offense.
Scalia scored 10 of her 22 points in the first quarter and had 15 in the first half. She set a career high with five 3-pointers made and matched career bests in both rebounds (7) and assists (4).
Pitts made three 3-pointers, was 6-of-8 at the free throw line and added five rebounds and three assists.
Minnesota, which never trailed, outscored the Lady Lions 28-10 in the opening quarter. It was the team's highest scoring opening quarter this season and its second highest overall. The team shot 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the floor in the frame, while holding Penn State to just 17.6 percent (3-of-17) shooting.
The opening quarter was highlighted by a 12-2 run in the first four minutes of the game. After a 3-pointer from Scalia, Penn State made a layup, but then senior Taiye Bello followed with back-to-back baskets, Pitts hit a jumper and Scalia nailed another 3-pointer. The Gophers later added a 10-0 run in the frame.
The second quarter was nearly a repeat as the Golden Gophers held a 26-11 edge in the frame to lead 54-21 at halftime. It tied for the most points Minnesota had scored in any half this season. Minnesota shot 63.6 percent (21-of-33) in the half, while Penn State was limited to 21.1 percent (8-38) shooting.
The team's largest lead of the game came at the 3:14 mark of the second quarter after a 3-pointer from Scalia made it a 49-14 game.
Penn State climbed back into the game, though, in the third quarter by outscoring Minnesota, 19-8, holding the Gophers to their lowest point total in a quarter this year.
The lead was 62-40 for Minnesota heading into the fourth quarter, but the Lady Lions kept fighting. They held a 34-19 edge in the frame, including 12 points each from Siyeh Frazier and Kamaria McDaniel. Penn State opened the fourth on a 14-5 run before a clutch 3-pointer from Scalia stopped the comeback for the time being.
The lead grew back to as many as 18 for Minnesota at 77-59 with 2:23 to play before a late run from Penn State cut the final margin to single digits.
McDaniel led all scorers with 31 points, while Frazier finished with 21 for the Lady Lions.
In addition to Scalia and Pitts, the Gophers nearly got a double-double from Bello as she had nine points and 10 rebounds. Her sister, Kehinde, contributed a career-high seven rebounds.
Minnesota is back in action Tuesday with its Big Ten home opener against Ohio State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. with the game airing on BTN Plus.
The win was the 11th in a row for Minnesota (11-1, 1-0) and its fifth straight against the Lady Lions. It also marked the third straight season the Gophers have won their Big Ten opener.
Freshman Sara Scalia (22) and junior Destiny Pitts (21) posted their third and fifth 20-point games of the season, respectively, to lead the Gophers' offense.
Scalia scored 10 of her 22 points in the first quarter and had 15 in the first half. She set a career high with five 3-pointers made and matched career bests in both rebounds (7) and assists (4).
Pitts made three 3-pointers, was 6-of-8 at the free throw line and added five rebounds and three assists.
Minnesota, which never trailed, outscored the Lady Lions 28-10 in the opening quarter. It was the team's highest scoring opening quarter this season and its second highest overall. The team shot 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the floor in the frame, while holding Penn State to just 17.6 percent (3-of-17) shooting.
The opening quarter was highlighted by a 12-2 run in the first four minutes of the game. After a 3-pointer from Scalia, Penn State made a layup, but then senior Taiye Bello followed with back-to-back baskets, Pitts hit a jumper and Scalia nailed another 3-pointer. The Gophers later added a 10-0 run in the frame.
The second quarter was nearly a repeat as the Golden Gophers held a 26-11 edge in the frame to lead 54-21 at halftime. It tied for the most points Minnesota had scored in any half this season. Minnesota shot 63.6 percent (21-of-33) in the half, while Penn State was limited to 21.1 percent (8-38) shooting.
The team's largest lead of the game came at the 3:14 mark of the second quarter after a 3-pointer from Scalia made it a 49-14 game.
Penn State climbed back into the game, though, in the third quarter by outscoring Minnesota, 19-8, holding the Gophers to their lowest point total in a quarter this year.
The lead was 62-40 for Minnesota heading into the fourth quarter, but the Lady Lions kept fighting. They held a 34-19 edge in the frame, including 12 points each from Siyeh Frazier and Kamaria McDaniel. Penn State opened the fourth on a 14-5 run before a clutch 3-pointer from Scalia stopped the comeback for the time being.
The lead grew back to as many as 18 for Minnesota at 77-59 with 2:23 to play before a late run from Penn State cut the final margin to single digits.
McDaniel led all scorers with 31 points, while Frazier finished with 21 for the Lady Lions.
In addition to Scalia and Pitts, the Gophers nearly got a double-double from Bello as she had nine points and 10 rebounds. Her sister, Kehinde, contributed a career-high seven rebounds.
Minnesota is back in action Tuesday with its Big Ten home opener against Ohio State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. with the game airing on BTN Plus.
Team Stats
MINN
PSU
FG%
.500
.325
3FG%
.556
.133
FT%
.611
.800
RB
41
46
TO
15
11
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
1
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballThe Story Behind The Photos | Episode 7
Friday, September 05
The Story Behind The Photos | Episode 6
Tuesday, September 02
The Story Behind The Photos | Episode 5
Monday, August 25
Lake Day | WBB Summer Workouts
Tuesday, August 12