University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Oregon State
Defensive Effort leads Minnesota over Oregon State 73-38
11/16/2024 4:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Annika Stewart led the Gophers with 13 off the bench.
TEMPE, AZ --The Minnesota women's basketball team kept Oregon State to just 18.2 percent from 3-point range in a 4-for-22 shooting performance on the way to a 73-38 victory over the Beavers at Desert Financial Arena Saturday.
The Golden Gophers (4-0) had three players score in double figures, led by Annika Stewart, who had 13 points. Grace Grocholski added 10 points and nine rebounds and Mara Braun helped out with 10 points.
Minnesota did a great job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 16 assists while turning the ball over just six times. Amaya Battle's five assists paced the Golden Gophers. The Minnesota defense held Oregon State shooters to only 28 percent from the field, including 18.2 percent from three-point range.
How It Happened
After falling behind 11-8, Minnesota went on a 5-0 run with 2:26 left in the first quarter to take a 13-11 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Minnesota capitalized on seven Oregon State turnovers in the period, turning them into seven points on the other end of the floor.
Oregon State fought back to tie the game at 13-13 before Minnesota went on an 8-0 run starting at the 9:01 mark in the second period to take a 21-13 lead. The Golden Gophers proceeded to tack on two points to that lead and enjoyed a 30-20 advantage heading into halftime. Minnesota forced five Oregon State turnovers in the period and turned them into five points.
Following intermission, Minnesota continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 44-30 before going on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a three from Braun, to expand its lead further to 52-30 with 2:21 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Beavers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Golden Gophers still entered the fourth quarter with a 52-36 edge. Minnesota played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 22 points in the paint.
Minnesota kept widening that lead, expanding it to 56-38 before going on a 17-0 run, finished off by McKenna Johnson's three, to grow the lead to 73-38 with 41 seconds to go in the contest. Minnesota got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 13 of its 21 total points in the final quarter.
Game Notes
» Minnesota's six turnovers vs. the Beavers were the fewest in a single game this season and the second fewest under Dawn Plitzuweit.
» The Gophers never trailed after taking a 13-11 first quarter lead.
» Stewart has now led the Gophers in scoring twice this season off the bench.
» Minnesota held Oregon State to just 28.0 percent from the floor, the lowest field goal percentage allowed by a Dawn Plitzuweit Gopher team against a Power 4 opponent.
» The Minnesota bench scored 32 points, marking the third time in four games the reserves have scored more than 30 this season.
» Minnesota had a 41-35 edge on the boards in the win.
» Minnesota cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
