Gophers Fall Short Against Nebraska in Big Ten Opener, 70-67

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota (6-5, 0-1 B1G) dropped its Big Ten opener to Nebraska (9-0, 1-0 B1G) 70-67 on Monday night at Williams Arena. For the first time this season the Golden Gophers had multiple 20-point scorers with Kadi Sissoko (25) and Sara Scalia (20) leading the offense.

Nebraska raced out to a 16-8 lead by the opening media break, shooting 70 percent out of the gates. Sissoko's career night showed early on as the redshirt junior scored the Gophers last six points in the opening period but the deficit was still at 11 with the score at 25-14.

The second quarter the Minnesota defense settled in by allowing just 21.4 percent shooting. The Gophers allowed just eight total points to claw their way back to down just two at halftime. Led by eight points in the quarter from Scalia the Gophers used runs of 10-2 and 7-0 to pull the halftime score to 33-31.

A slow start to the third quarter put Minnesota in a 10-point deficit just three minutes into the second half but Sissoko continued to keep the Gophers in the contest with jumper after jumper. The Paris, France, native scored 11 points in the third quarter, including four field goals, to spark an 8-0 at the end of the quarter and headed into the fourth down just three.

The fourth quarter was a back and forth affair between the two teams. Early on Scalia answered a Nebraska three with a long-range triple of her own but Nebraska continued to hit its free throws to keep Minnesota at bay early in the quarter. Scalia ultimately tied the game with her fourth three of the night and then gave the Gophers a 59-57 lead with 5:05 to go. After Minnesota's lead grew to four on a Deja Winters layup the Cornhuskers quickly tied the game at 61-61 with 3:11 to go in the game.

In the final 3:11 the Cornhuskers were the more efficient team shooting 3-of-5 down the stretch and converting 3-of-4 from the free throw line to take home the 70-67 road victory. Nebraska had four players in double figures with Jaz Shelley and Bella Cravens leading the way with 15 points each.

After a four-game homestand where the Gophers finished 2-2 the 51st season of Gopher women's basketball heads back on the road with No. 12/9 Michigan on Sunday, Dec. 12. The game, which can be seen on B1G+, tips at 1 p.m. CT. 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
Nebraska's eight points in the second quarter was the fewest the Cornhuskers had scored in any quarter this season; Kadi Sissoko set a career high with 25 points, topping her previous record of 24 (Eastern Illinois - 12/2/20); Sara Scalia doubled her career average against Nebraska with 20 points (Career vs. NEB Avg. 10.3); The three-point loss to Nebraska marks the eighth consecutive meeting decided by 6 points or less dating back to 2014; Minnesota's four-point lead in the 4th quarter is the largest deficit Nebraska has faced in the second half this season; Kadi Sissoko set a new season high in FG made by an individual Gopher with 10, previously held by Jasmine Powell at nine against Arizona St.; Minnesota's loss is the first loss against Nebraska at home since 2017

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