.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
16-15,5-13Big Ten
Michigan
19-12,9-9Big Ten
Minnesota Falls 76-57 to Michigan in Big Ten Tournament Second Round
3/7/2024 10:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- Amaya Battle, Ayianna Johnson and Ajok Madol combined to score 45 of Minnesota's 57 total points, but the Golden Gophers fell to the No. 6 seed Michigan 76-57 at Target Center Thursday night.
Battle led the Golden Gophers (16-15) with 22 points while hitting 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Johnson added 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks while fellow freshman Ajok Madol chipped in as well with a career high 11 points from the bench.
How It Happened
Minnesota struggled out of the gate, falling behind for as much as 14 before Battle hit a shot from nearly half court as time expired to end the opening 10 minutes down 23-12.
After trimming the deficit to as little as seven points early in the second quarter Michigan once again widened it to 15 points with 2:58 to go in the half. Freshman Brynn Senden then sparked Minnesota with a bucket and an assist in the final 90 seconds to help Minnesota trim the lead to 37-24 at the halftime break.
Michigan continued to extend its lead in the third quarter, with their lead growing to as large as 19 points. Minnesota then responded with a quick 5-0 run, punctuated by a three from Madol, to trim its deficit to 53-39 with 2:26 to go in the third. Michigan countered and stretched its lead to 58-41 heading into the fourth.
Minnesota could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 76-57.
Game Notes
» Amaya Battle, Ayianna Johnson, and Ajok Madol combined to account for 79 percent of the Golden Gophers points.
» Prior to Thursday's game Madol had not scored in a Big Ten contest with her previous career high of eight points coming back on December 21, 2023, against Lindenwood.
» Amaya Battle scored 54 points in two games in the Big Ten Tournament and shot 48.6 percent (17-of-35) from the floor and 78.3 percent (18-of-23) from the free throw line.
» Minnesota got a career-high 17 rebounds from Mallory Heyer, who bested her previous high of 15.
