University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
9-0,0-0Big Ten
Louisiana
3-3,0-0Sun Belt
Minnesota Stays Undefeated in 68-48 Win Over Louisiana
11/30/2024 1:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Golden Gophers are 9-0
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The University of Minnesota women's basketball team picked up its ninth-straight win on Saturday over the Louisiana Rajin' Cajuns 68-48. The Golden Gophers improve to 9-0, the Ragin' Cajuns drop to 3-3.
The Maroon and Gold had two players score in double figures, led by Mallory Heyer, who had 20 points. Grace Grocholski tacked on 14 points and six rebounds and Tori McKinney added five points, nine rebounds and two steals.
Led by Sophie Hart's three offensive rebounds, Minnesota did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 15 boards that resulted in 18 second chance points.
The Minnesota defense held Louisiana shooters to just 32.7 percent from the field, including 0 percent from three-point range. The Ragin' Cajuns did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only nine offensive rebounds and scored eight second chance points while Minnesota pulled down 28 defensive rebounds.
How It Happened
Minnesota started out the scoring by going on a 9-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Heyer, to take an early lead with 7:05 left in the first quarter. The Gophers then added five points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 22-8 advantage. Minnesota did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 16 of its 22 points close to the basket.
The Gophers maintained their lead in the game's second frame and entered halftime with a 33-23 lead. Minnesota dominated in the paint, scoring six of its 11 points close to the basket.
Minnesota continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 12-0 run, punctuated by a three from Grocholski, to expand its lead further to 45-29 with 3:52 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Gophers added one point to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 50-33 edge. Minnesota knocked down three three-pointers in the quarter to score nine of its 17 total points.
Minnesota started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on a 9-0 run, finished off by Grocholski's three, to grow the lead to 59-33 with 8:41 to go in the contest. The Ragin' Cajuns narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Golden Gophers still cruised the rest of the way for the 68-48 win. Minnesota fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 18 points.
Game Notes
» Minnesota shot well from three point range, knocking down 10 of 25 long range attempts.
» The Maroon and Gold held the Ragin' Cajuns to only 32.7 percent shooting from the field.
» The Gophers never trailed after taking a 22-8 first quarter lead.
» Minnesota recorded 16 total assists in the game.
» The Minnesota bench came alive by adding 22 points to its scoring output.
» Minnesota had a 43-36 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Minnesota defense forced 13 turnovers.
» Minnesota cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 15 offensive boards in the game.
» Mallory Heyer led the Gophers with a game-high 20 points.
» Minnesota got a game-high nine rebounds from Tori McKinney.
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