University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
14-4,4-3Big Ten
Michigan State
13-5,3-4Big Ten
Gophers Defense Clamps Down Michigan State, 69-50
1/20/2024 4:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota held Michigan State to its lowest point total of the season.
MINNEAPOLISÂ --Â The Minnesota women's basketball team held Michigan State to its lowest point total of the season in a dominant 69-50 victory over the Spartans at Williams Arena on Saturday afternoon. Led by Mallory Heyer's 18-point, 15-rebound double double, the Gophers ran away from the Spartans that had averaged almost 90 points per game as a team this season.Â
The Golden Gophers (14-4, 4-3) had four players score in double figures, led by Heyer, who notched her third double double of the season in the win. Sophie Hart added 12 points and Grace Grocholski helped out with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Minnesota out-rebounded Michigan State 45-36 in Saturday's game, paced by Heyer's 15 boards, with 12 coming on the defensive end.
Minnesota's defense held Michigan State to only 32.8 percent from the field, their lowest shooting percentage in a game this season. The Golden Gophers also limited Moira Joiner to 1-of-7 shooting from downtown and seven points in the game. The Spartans did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with six offensive rebounds and managed just seven second chance points while Minnesota cleared 36 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
After falling behind 14-12, Minnesota went on a 6-0 run with 4:02 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Mara Braun, to take an 18-14 lead and went on to finish the first quarter with a two-point advantage at 20-18. Minnesota relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 20 points.
Minnesota built that first quarter lead to 31-24 before going on a 5-0 run starting at the 3:03 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Heyer, to increase its lead to 36-24, a score that would hold until halftime. Minnesota was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three three-point shots to account for nine of its 16 points.
Minnesota wasted no time building on its lead, extending its run at the end of the first half to 12-0, punctuated by a basket from Hart, to expand its lead further to 43-24 with 7:15 to go in the third. Hart connected on three more shots in the third, helping the Gophers out score Michigan State 20-14 in the quarter. Minnesota knocked down three triples in the quarter to score nine of its 20 total points.
Minnesota kept its lead intact before going on a 10-0 run, finished off by Hart's jumper, to grow the lead to 68-44 with 3:12 to go in the contest. The Spartans narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Golden Gophers still cruised the rest of the way for the 69-50 win. Minnesota continued to fire away from deep in the quarter, knocking down two shots to account for six of its 13 points.
Game Notes
» Mallory Heyer's double double is the eighth of her career and third of the season.Â
» Minnesota's 12 made threes is the second most for the Gophers against a Big Ten team this season.Â
» Amaya Battle hit a three in the first half, her third straight game with a made shot from beyond the arc.Â
» The Golden Gophers never trailed after taking a 20-18 first quarter lead.
» Maggie Czinano made two threes against the Spartans, the first time in her career she hit more than one in a game.Â
» With today's win, Minnesota has matched its Big Ten win total from last season through seven of this year's 18 scheduled conference games.Â
» Minnesota is now 12-0 when leading at halftime.Â
» Minnesota held Michigan State to its lowest point total against the Gophers since Feb. 2, 2009 (50).Â
» With Heyer's five made threes, the Gophers have now had nine different games where a player has hit five or more threes.Â
