University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, February 24
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
13-16,6-11Big Ten
87
vs
54
Illinois
6-18,1-12Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Illinois
7
16
18
13
54
Minnesota
20
20
21
26
87
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Send Seniors Out with a 33-Point Win over Illinois
2/24/2022 9:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota (13-16, 6-11 B1G) sent its seniors out with a huge 33-point win at Williams Arena on Thursday night, dismantling Illinois (6-18, 1-12 B1G) with five different players scoring in double figures. Led by sixth-year senior Gadiva Hubbard's 22 points in her final game at the Barn, seniors Deja Winters (12) and Laura Bagwell Katalinich (11) also scored in double figures while Kadi Sissoko added 13 off the bench.
With every senior contributing in their final night at the Barn, Bailey Helgren notched a career-high five assists while starting in her final appearance in Minneapolis. Kayla Mershon also enjoyed a season-high eight rebounds, including four offensive, in the win.
Minnesota came out firing against Illinois, starting the game on a 13-3 run and forcing Illinois to burn an early timeout. Sara Scalia highlighted the run, making both of her three-point attempts early and scoring nine in the opening quarter. The Maroon and Gold partnered its stellar first-quarter shooting by holding Illinois to just 7 points – the fewest points an opponent has scored in the first quarter against the Maroon and Gold all season.
The Gophers came out in the second just as they did in the first, scoring six unanswered and growing the lead to 26-7. Illinois didn't quit, cutting the Gophers lead to as few as 11, but Minnesota closed the first half with a 9-3 run to take a 40-23 into the locker room.
The seniors continued to shine in the second half for Minnesota, as they accounted for 19 of the Gophers 21 third-quarter points. Guard Deja Winters had a team high six points in the quarter, as Minnesota continued to dominate the Fighting Illini, leading 61-41 after three quarters in Williams Arena.
The lead grew to as much as 36 in the fourth quarter with Minnesota's senior class enjoying a final moment in the quarter with all five seniors playing one possession with all five on the court. Hubbard connected on a three in the possession, her sixth of the night, to notch her first 20-point performance of the season and finish with a season-high 22 points.
In the game Minnesota shot 44.4% from 3-point land, hitting 12 from deep in the win. The team finished a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line and finished with 13 offensive rebounds and won the rebound battle 47-34. Minnesota also enjoyed a free-flowing offensive game, registering 22 assists with just 10 turnovers.
Game Notes:
Sara Scalia has now scored in double figures in 19 straight games; the Gophers improved to 20-13 when facing the Fighting Illini in Williams Arena; for the third time in Lindsay Whalen's four years as head coach of the Gophers, Minnesota has secured an above .500 home win percentage; Senior Kayla Mershon came one shy of her career-high in rebounds, with eight on the night; 55 of Minnesota's 87 points came from seniors with the senior class hitting 21 of the team's 34 field goals along with all seven free throws.
With every senior contributing in their final night at the Barn, Bailey Helgren notched a career-high five assists while starting in her final appearance in Minneapolis. Kayla Mershon also enjoyed a season-high eight rebounds, including four offensive, in the win.
Minnesota came out firing against Illinois, starting the game on a 13-3 run and forcing Illinois to burn an early timeout. Sara Scalia highlighted the run, making both of her three-point attempts early and scoring nine in the opening quarter. The Maroon and Gold partnered its stellar first-quarter shooting by holding Illinois to just 7 points – the fewest points an opponent has scored in the first quarter against the Maroon and Gold all season.
The Gophers came out in the second just as they did in the first, scoring six unanswered and growing the lead to 26-7. Illinois didn't quit, cutting the Gophers lead to as few as 11, but Minnesota closed the first half with a 9-3 run to take a 40-23 into the locker room.
The seniors continued to shine in the second half for Minnesota, as they accounted for 19 of the Gophers 21 third-quarter points. Guard Deja Winters had a team high six points in the quarter, as Minnesota continued to dominate the Fighting Illini, leading 61-41 after three quarters in Williams Arena.
The lead grew to as much as 36 in the fourth quarter with Minnesota's senior class enjoying a final moment in the quarter with all five seniors playing one possession with all five on the court. Hubbard connected on a three in the possession, her sixth of the night, to notch her first 20-point performance of the season and finish with a season-high 22 points.
In the game Minnesota shot 44.4% from 3-point land, hitting 12 from deep in the win. The team finished a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line and finished with 13 offensive rebounds and won the rebound battle 47-34. Minnesota also enjoyed a free-flowing offensive game, registering 22 assists with just 10 turnovers.
Game Notes:
Sara Scalia has now scored in double figures in 19 straight games; the Gophers improved to 20-13 when facing the Fighting Illini in Williams Arena; for the third time in Lindsay Whalen's four years as head coach of the Gophers, Minnesota has secured an above .500 home win percentage; Senior Kayla Mershon came one shy of her career-high in rebounds, with eight on the night; 55 of Minnesota's 87 points came from seniors with the senior class hitting 21 of the team's 34 field goals along with all seven free throws.
Team Stats
Illini
MINN
FG%
.313
.507
3FG%
.250
.429
FT%
.563
1.000
RB
34
47
TO
10
10
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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