University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, November 30
Williams Arena
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
4-3,0-0Big Ten
59
vs
63
Wake Forest
5-3,0-1ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Wake Forest
10
13
24
16
63
Minnesota
5
22
12
20
59
Team Stats
WF
MINN
FG%
.421
.371
3FG%
.294
.350
FT%
.625
.500
RB
40
39
TO
18
19
STL
9
7
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
9
3FGM
5
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
Gophers Come Up Short in ACC-Big Ten Challenge, 63-59
11/30/2022 7:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 30, 2022) – The University of Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) fell to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-3, 0-1 ACC) 63-59 in a tightly contested ACC-Big Ten Challenge matchup at Williams Arena on Wednesday night. Freshman standout Mara Braun scored a game-high 27 points and hit five threes while Alanna 'Rose' Micheaux notched her fourth double double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Braun's performance is her third performance of 24 points or more in six career games. Braun, who shot 9-of-18 from the floor, also finished with three steals in almost 38-minutes of action. Micheaux's 13 points and 10 rebounds came on 6-of-13 shooting.
The offense on both sides started slow, with Wake Forest shooting 1-of-8 to begin the game and Minnesota turning the ball over seven times in the opening 10 minutes. Wake Forest took a 10-5 lead into the second quarter with Battle and MIcheaux converting field goals for the Maroon and Gold.
Minnesota's offense came alive in the second, scoring 22 points to take a four-point lead into the locker room. Braun scored five points during a Gophers 9-0 run, including a three that gave Minnesota a 23-21 lead. The Gophers shot 8-of-17 in the quarter, and trimmed down their turnovers to just two during the 10-minute quarter.
In the third Minnesota's lead was as large as seven when Braun hit her second three of the day to lead 30-23 but an 8-0 Wake Forest run gave the lead back to the visitors at the 8:27 mark. Wake Forest used another run, this time a 7-0 sprint, to extend their lead to six and eventually up to 10 before the end of the quarter, forcing Minnesota to try and come from behind in the final 10 minutes.
Braun continued her onslaught in the fourth, scoring the first 10 points for the Maroon and Gold, cutting the lead to just four with 5:31 to go. Isabelle Gradwell added a triple before Braun scored her final bucket with 2:31 to go to bring the score to 56-55, Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons converted an and-one with 2:13 to go, but a Micheaux layup with 1:22 kept the Gophers down just one possession with one minute to go.
In the final minute the Gophers were able to tie up the game with an and-one from Micheaux, but a missed free throw gave Wake Forest the ball with the game tied. On the next possession Wake Forest's Jewel Spear used a screen to get freed up and hit a step-back three with 3.0 seconds to give the Demon Deacons a 3-point lead and eventually the win.
As a team the Maroon and Gold shot 23-of-62 (37.1 percent) from the floor and hit 7-of-20 (35.0 percent) from beyond the arc. Wake Forest won the battle on the glass 40-39 and forced 19 Minnesota turnovers.
The University of Minnesota will play its second straight game against a Power 5 opponent on Saturday, Dec. 3, against Penn State to open up their Big Ten schedule. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on the Big Ten Network. The game can also be heard on KFAN+ and the iHeartRadio app.
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 2022-23 season.
GAME NOTES: Minnesota started four freshmen, becoming the only team in the Big Ten to start four or more freshmen this season... Minnesota was held to a season-low four fast-break points... Mara Braun has now hit five threes in two games this season.
Braun's performance is her third performance of 24 points or more in six career games. Braun, who shot 9-of-18 from the floor, also finished with three steals in almost 38-minutes of action. Micheaux's 13 points and 10 rebounds came on 6-of-13 shooting.
The offense on both sides started slow, with Wake Forest shooting 1-of-8 to begin the game and Minnesota turning the ball over seven times in the opening 10 minutes. Wake Forest took a 10-5 lead into the second quarter with Battle and MIcheaux converting field goals for the Maroon and Gold.
Minnesota's offense came alive in the second, scoring 22 points to take a four-point lead into the locker room. Braun scored five points during a Gophers 9-0 run, including a three that gave Minnesota a 23-21 lead. The Gophers shot 8-of-17 in the quarter, and trimmed down their turnovers to just two during the 10-minute quarter.
In the third Minnesota's lead was as large as seven when Braun hit her second three of the day to lead 30-23 but an 8-0 Wake Forest run gave the lead back to the visitors at the 8:27 mark. Wake Forest used another run, this time a 7-0 sprint, to extend their lead to six and eventually up to 10 before the end of the quarter, forcing Minnesota to try and come from behind in the final 10 minutes.
Braun continued her onslaught in the fourth, scoring the first 10 points for the Maroon and Gold, cutting the lead to just four with 5:31 to go. Isabelle Gradwell added a triple before Braun scored her final bucket with 2:31 to go to bring the score to 56-55, Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons converted an and-one with 2:13 to go, but a Micheaux layup with 1:22 kept the Gophers down just one possession with one minute to go.
In the final minute the Gophers were able to tie up the game with an and-one from Micheaux, but a missed free throw gave Wake Forest the ball with the game tied. On the next possession Wake Forest's Jewel Spear used a screen to get freed up and hit a step-back three with 3.0 seconds to give the Demon Deacons a 3-point lead and eventually the win.
As a team the Maroon and Gold shot 23-of-62 (37.1 percent) from the floor and hit 7-of-20 (35.0 percent) from beyond the arc. Wake Forest won the battle on the glass 40-39 and forced 19 Minnesota turnovers.
The University of Minnesota will play its second straight game against a Power 5 opponent on Saturday, Dec. 3, against Penn State to open up their Big Ten schedule. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on the Big Ten Network. The game can also be heard on KFAN+ and the iHeartRadio app.
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 2022-23 season.
GAME NOTES: Minnesota started four freshmen, becoming the only team in the Big Ten to start four or more freshmen this season... Minnesota was held to a season-low four fast-break points... Mara Braun has now hit five threes in two games this season.
Cinematic Recap: Gophers at Indiana
Wednesday, December 31
Highlights: Gophers 71, Indiana 48
Monday, December 29
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win at Drake
Tuesday, December 23
Highlights: Gophers 68, Drake 43
Sunday, December 21