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University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, January 6
Iowa City, Iowa
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
2-5,1-4Big Ten
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92
Iowa
8-1,4-1Big Ten
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Minnesota
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Iowa
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Photo by: Brian Ray
Strong First Half Not Enough in Loss at Iowa
1/6/2021 9:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- Despite a strong first half, Minnesota (2-5, 1-4 B1G) was unable to hang on in a 92-79 setback Wednesday night at RV/RV Iowa (8-1, 4-1).
Sophomore Kadi Sissoko posted a double-double for the second straight game with 20 points and 10 rebounds, which matched her career high. Eleven of her 20 points came in the first quarter, marking the most by a Gopher in any quarter this season.
Fellow sophomores Jasmine Powell and Sara Scalia each tallied 18 points. Powell, who matched Sissoko's mark by scoring 11 points of her own in the second quarter, tied a season high with seven rebounds and added six assists and three steals, while Scalia, who was a game-time decision with a shoulder injury suffered Sunday at Wisconsin, notched a season high in points thanks to four 3-pointers.
Iowa was led by freshman guard Caitlin Clark and her 37 points and 11 rebounds, while Monika Czinano added 19 points and nine rebounds.
The Gophers started the game as well as they had all season, hitting their first five shots and taking a 27-19 lead after the first 10 minutes. It tied for the most points they had scored in any quarter this season, matching a 27-point output in the second quarter against Michigan State.
Leading 24-19 with 1:01 to go in the first, Minnesota went on an 11-0 run that stretched to the 7:14 mark of the second quarter. That put the Gophers up 35-19 for their largest lead of the season.
Junior Kayla Mershon, who had a career-high nine points and four blocks, hit a 3-pointer to end the first quarter, while Powell opened the second quarter with a basket and a free throw. Sophomore Klarke Sconiers added a layup before Powell capped the run with a 3-pointer.
Minnesota led 48-38 at halftime thanks to 53 percent shooting from the field and making 8-of-16 from 3-point range.
Unfortunately, Iowa came out hot from the locker room and outscored the Gophers, 30-13. Eleven of the Hawkeyes seven 3-pointers came in the third quarter alone and they held the Gophers to just 27.8 percent shooting.
Iowa stretched its lead to as many as 16 in the fourth before a late run saw the Gophers cut it back to single digits.
Down 88-72 with 2:05 to go, Mershon made a layup and hit the free throw afterward. Scalia then got a steal near midcourt and took it in for a fastbreak layup. Freshman Alexia Smith, who made her first career start, then stole the inbounds pass the Gophers were down nine with 1:25 to play. They would not get closer, however.
After two straight games on the road, Minnesota returns home Sunday to host Penn State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on BTN Plus.
GAME NOTES
Sissoko posted her second career 20-point game, both of which have come this season ... Powell tied a career high with three 3-pointers made ... Scalia's 12 3-point attempts were a career high as were her 16 field goal attempts; she also set season a season high in field goals made (6) ... Mershon hit a pair of 3-pointers, her first game with multiple 3's in her career ... as a team, the Gophers set a season high with 11 3-pointers made
Sophomore Kadi Sissoko posted a double-double for the second straight game with 20 points and 10 rebounds, which matched her career high. Eleven of her 20 points came in the first quarter, marking the most by a Gopher in any quarter this season.
Fellow sophomores Jasmine Powell and Sara Scalia each tallied 18 points. Powell, who matched Sissoko's mark by scoring 11 points of her own in the second quarter, tied a season high with seven rebounds and added six assists and three steals, while Scalia, who was a game-time decision with a shoulder injury suffered Sunday at Wisconsin, notched a season high in points thanks to four 3-pointers.
Iowa was led by freshman guard Caitlin Clark and her 37 points and 11 rebounds, while Monika Czinano added 19 points and nine rebounds.
The Gophers started the game as well as they had all season, hitting their first five shots and taking a 27-19 lead after the first 10 minutes. It tied for the most points they had scored in any quarter this season, matching a 27-point output in the second quarter against Michigan State.
Leading 24-19 with 1:01 to go in the first, Minnesota went on an 11-0 run that stretched to the 7:14 mark of the second quarter. That put the Gophers up 35-19 for their largest lead of the season.
Junior Kayla Mershon, who had a career-high nine points and four blocks, hit a 3-pointer to end the first quarter, while Powell opened the second quarter with a basket and a free throw. Sophomore Klarke Sconiers added a layup before Powell capped the run with a 3-pointer.
Minnesota led 48-38 at halftime thanks to 53 percent shooting from the field and making 8-of-16 from 3-point range.
Unfortunately, Iowa came out hot from the locker room and outscored the Gophers, 30-13. Eleven of the Hawkeyes seven 3-pointers came in the third quarter alone and they held the Gophers to just 27.8 percent shooting.
Iowa stretched its lead to as many as 16 in the fourth before a late run saw the Gophers cut it back to single digits.
Down 88-72 with 2:05 to go, Mershon made a layup and hit the free throw afterward. Scalia then got a steal near midcourt and took it in for a fastbreak layup. Freshman Alexia Smith, who made her first career start, then stole the inbounds pass the Gophers were down nine with 1:25 to play. They would not get closer, however.
After two straight games on the road, Minnesota returns home Sunday to host Penn State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on BTN Plus.
GAME NOTES
Sissoko posted her second career 20-point game, both of which have come this season ... Powell tied a career high with three 3-pointers made ... Scalia's 12 3-point attempts were a career high as were her 16 field goal attempts; she also set season a season high in field goals made (6) ... Mershon hit a pair of 3-pointers, her first game with multiple 3's in her career ... as a team, the Gophers set a season high with 11 3-pointers made
Team Stats
MINN
Iowa
FG%
.439
.531
3FG%
.367
.458
FT%
.667
.813
RB
32
39
TO
14
12
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
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