Scalia's Incredible Shooting Night Leads Gophers Past Ohio 99-93

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota (7-6, 0-2 B1G) got 37 points from junior guard Sara Scalia on Wednesday night to push past Ohio (4-3, 0-0 MAC), the Mid-American Conference preseason favorite, 99-93 at Williams Arena. Aided by a near triple-double from Jasmine Powell (18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists) the Gophers outran the Bobcats using 18 threes, the most by the team ever at Williams Arena.

"Honestly, when I'm in a game like this and I'm hitting shots it is just one of the best feelings," Scalia said. "Mostly because this game is something I've put so much work in. I've put hours and hours into the gym. To see it pay off it is obviously just a really good feeling. I've worked hard for this."

Scalia's performance from beyond the arc is the second best in program history behind Rachel Banham's 10 threes made back in 2016 on the road against Illinois. For Scalia, the nine threes are the most made by any individual (men's or women's) at Williams Arena for the University of Minnesota.

As a team the Gophers made 18 threes, the second most in program history just behind the 19 threes, a Big Ten record, the Gophers dropped in that same Illinois game in 2016.

The game began with a foreshadowing for what was to come, each team exchanged threes to open the game, but Ohio jumped out to a five-point lead before the Gophers used a 10-2 run to take a three point first-quarter lead. The Gophers expanded the lead to as much as six before the quarter ended at 25-21.

The second quarter proved to be an incredible one for the Maroon and Gold. The team dropped a season-high 32 points to outscore the Bobcats by eight and take a 57-45 lead into the locker room. The Gophers 57 points in the first half, a season high, were highlighted by Scalia scoring 21 of them. The Stillwater, Minn., native hit five threes on eight attempts and was 8-of-12 from the floor. At one point in the second quarter the Gophers connected on 13 straight shots, five of them from beyond the arc.

The second quarter also brought a new 1,000 point scorer for the Golden Gophers. Graduate student Deja Winters needed seven points coming into Wednesday's game and she reached that in the second quarter. Winters is the 27th Gopher to reach 1,000 points while at Minnesota. Winters has scored 140 of those while in the Maroon and Gold.

The second half brought more scoring at the Barn. Both teams scored over 42 points with the Bobcats outscoring the Gophers 24-22 in the third and 24-20 in the fourth.

During the back-and forth second half the Bobcats came as close as two points away from the Maroon and Gold but free throws down the stretch kept the Gophers in front and eventually helped secure the win.

Minnesota's busy 2021-22 schedule slows down a bit for the first time this season. The Gophers will not play again until Dec. 23, on the road, against Drake (7-2). The game, which can be seen on ESPN+, tips at 2 p.m. CT. Fans Fans can, as always, listen to Justin Gaard and Lynnette Sjoquist on KFAN+.

For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota women's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherWBB) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the 2021-22 season.

GAME NOTES
Sara Scalia's 37 points bested her previous season best of 25 (season opener v. Jacksonville) and also her previous career high of 30 (career v. Purdue [1/28/21]); Sara Scalia sets career high in 3 point field goal makes with 9, beating previous best of 6 (v. Purdue [1/28/21]); Sara Scalia matched a season high in total rebounds with 8 (North Carolina [12/1/21]); Setting a season high for points in a game, the Gophers scored 99, edging out their previous record of 81 (UTSA 11/28/21); Jasmine Powell set a career high for rebounds, with 11 total. Powell's previous record was also set this year, as she pulled down 9 against Arizona State (11/12/21); Third time this season Minnesota has had 4 scorers in double figures, with Scalia (37), Hubbard (14), Powell (18), and Winters (16) all reaching at least 14 points.

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