University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
17-15,5-13Big Ten
Pacific
19-15,8-8WCC
'U' Gets 26 Bench Points, Defeats Pacific 77-62 in WNIT
3/26/2024 9:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota will host NDSU in the 'Super 16' on Friday at 7 p.m.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota women's basketball team got a 26-point performance from the bench on the way to a 77-62 win against the Pacific Tigers at home Tuesday.
The Golden Gophers (17-15) had four players score in double figures, led by Sophie Hart, who had 14 points in just 19 minutes. Sophomore Mara Braun, returning from injury after 58 days, added 12 points and Mallory Heyer chipped in as well with 11 points and six rebounds.
Minnesota utilized fantastic ball movement in Tuesday's game, piling up 20 assists on 30 made field goals. Amaya Battle's six assists were the most for the Gophers while freshman Grace Grocholski added five assists of her own.
Minnesota forced 22 Pacific turnovers while committing 13 themselves in Tuesday's game. The Golden Gophers turned those takeaways into 25 points on the offensive end of the floor. Battle's four steals led the way for Minnesota.
How It Happened
Minnesota started out the scoring by going on a 10-0 run, culminating in a three from Braun, to take an early lead with 8:03 left in the first quarter. The Golden Gophers then maintained that lead and entered the quarter break with a 22-12 advantage. Minnesota did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 12 of its 22 points close to the basket.
Minnesota built that first quarter lead to 31-16 before going on a 6-0 run starting at the 5:42 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Hart, to increase its lead to 37-16. The Tigers cut into that lead, but the Golden Gophers still enjoyed a 40-22 advantage heading into halftime. Minnesota dominated in the paint, scoring 14 of its 18 points close to the basket.
Minnesota continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a three from Braun, to expand its lead further to 61-40 with 2:15 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 67-45 edge. Minnesota played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 27 points in the paint.
The Golden Gophers then held on for the victory in the fourth quarter. Minnesota took advantage of four Pacific turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» The Golden Gophers never trailed and led by as much as 22 (40-18).
» Amaya Battle now has four different four-steal performances this season after having zero her freshman season.
» Sophie Hart started the game 5-of-5 from the floor and finished with a team-high six made field goals.
» The Gophers had seven different players score eight or more points on Tuesday night.
» Minnesota is now 7-6 all-time in the WNIT and has reached the 'Super 16' for just the second time in seven appearances in the tournament.
