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University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
15-10,5-9Big Ten
Northwestern
8-17,3-11Big Ten
Grocholski Explodes for a Career High 27 in 88-63 win over Northwestern
2/17/2024 4:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
All five Minnesota starters scored in double figures on Saturday.
MINNEAPOLIS --Â The Minnesota women's basketball team saw all five starters reach double figures in points and defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 88-63 at Williams Arena on Saturday.
The Golden Gophers (15-10, 5-9 B1G) had five players score in double figures, led by Grace Grocholski, who had a career high 27 points and two steals. Janay Sanders tacked on 13 points and six assists and Mallory Heyer chipped in as well with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Grocholski's performance was one for the record books with the freshman scoring 27 points to tie her for the eighth-most points in a game by a freshman in school history. The Wisconsin native made each of her first eight shots, including five-of-five from three, and had 18 points by halftime.Â
The Minnesota defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Saturday's game, forcing 19 Northwestern turnovers while committing just 12 of their own. Those takeaways turned into 22 points on the offensive end of the floor. Niamya Holloway led the way individually for the Golden Gophers with three steals, her seventh game this season with three or more steals.Â
How It Happened
The game began with Grocholski hitting three triples in the first two minutes and 20 seconds to take a 9-2 lead on the visiting Wildcats. Both teams were effective shooting the ball in the first quarter with both shooting over 57 percent from the floor with the Gophers shooting 68.8 percent (11-of-16). Minnesota capitalized on five Northwestern turnovers in the period, turning them into eight points on the other end of the floor.
The Golden Gophers used the second period to increase their lead and entered halftime with a 42-33 edge. For Grocholski, her 18 first-half points broke her previous first-half high of 17 points against Norfolk State.
Following intermission, Minnesota continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 49-37 before going on an 11-0 run to expand its lead further to 60-37 with 2:35 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Golden Gophers added one point to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 67-43 edge. Minnesota took advantage of seven Northwestern turnovers in the quarter, scoring seven points off of takeaways.
Minnesota kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Sanders' first three of the season, to grow the lead to 88-63 with 38 seconds to go in the contest, a score which would hold for the rest of the game. Minnesota pulled down four offensive rebounds to score six second chance points out of 21 total in the period
Game Notes
» Mallory Heyer is now tied for the fourth most starts to start a career at Minnesota at 55.Â
» With six 3-pointers, Grocholski has now made 61 this season which puts her inside the top five for most threes made in a single season by a freshman.
» Janay Sanders tied her career high with six assists.Â
» Amaya Battle has registered five or more assists in six straight games, the longest streak of her career.
» Minnesota had a 34-27 edge on the boards in the win.
» Mallory Heyer has registered seven or more rebounds in five straight games.Â
