University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
10-1,1-0Big Ten
Grambling State
4-5,0-0SWAC
Minnesota's Bench Scores 34 In 96-64 Win Over Grambling
12/13/2023 1:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Mara Braun scored a game-high 26 points in 24 minutes.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Minnesota women's basketball team (10-1, 1-0 B1G) got a 34-point performance from the bench on the way to a 96-64 win over the Grambling Tigers (3-5, 0-0 SWAC) at Williams Arena Wednesday. The win for the Maroon and Gold is the team's seventh-straight.
The Golden Gophers had four players score in double figures, led by Mara Braun, who had 26 points in just 24 minutes. Freshman Grace Grocholski tacked on 12 points, 11 in the first half, and Mallory Heyer chipped in as well with 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Minnesota offense was strong from beyond the arc, making 11 threes on 27 attempts. Braun hit a career high six triples for the Golden Gophers in the contest.
The Minnesota defense forced 18 Grambling turnovers while committing 15. Those takeaways turned into 28 points on the offensive end of the floor. Amaya Battle's four steals led the way individually for the Golden Gophers with Battle's 10 assists tying her career high she set against Wisconsin last season.
How It Happened
After falling behind 6-5, Minnesota went on an 8-0 run with 7:01 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Heyer, to take a 13-6 lead. The Golden Gophers then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 25-19 advantage. Minnesota relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 25 points.
Minnesota built that first quarter lead to 45-35 before going on a 6-0 run starting at the 2:57 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Sophie Hart, to increase its lead to 51-35. The Tigers cut into that lead, but the Golden Gophers still enjoyed a 53-38 advantage heading into halftime. Minnesota was strong from deep in the period, knocking down four three-point shots to account for 12 of its 28 points.
Following intermission, Minnesota continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 68-50 before going on a 12-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Niamya Holloway, to expand its lead further to 80-50 with 51 seconds to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Tigers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Golden Gophers still entered the fourth quarter with a 80-53 edge. Minnesota took advantage of five Grambling turnovers in the quarter, scoring nine points off of takeaways.
Minnesota started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on a 7-0 run to grow the lead to 87-53 with 8:12 to go in the contest. The Tigers narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Golden Gophers still cruised the rest of the way for the 96-64 win. Minnesota got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 16 of its 16 total points.
Game Notes
» Mara Braun has hit at least one three in 23 straight games going back to last season.
» The Golden Gophers never trailed after taking a 25-19 first quarter lead.
» The Golden Gophers put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 73 percent of made baskets.
» Minnesota registered 27 second-chance points, a season high for the Maroon and Gold.
» The Minnesota bench scored 34 points, their second highest total this season.
» Minnesota had a 45-27 edge on the boards in the win.
» Minnesota is now 4-0 in the month of December.
