University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
18-3,6-3Big Ten
Wisconsin
10-10,1-8Big Ten
No. 23 Minnesota Secures 71-50 Win Against Wisconsin
1/26/2025 4:25:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Golden Gophers secured the Border Battle win at home on Sunday
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The No. 23 ranked Minnesota women's basketball team (18-3, 6-3 B1G) went into halftime tied with Wisconsin (10-10, 1-8 B1G) 28-28, but took control in the second half to defeat the Badgers 71-50 at home Sunday afternoon.
The Golden Gophers had four players score in double figures, led by Grace Grocholski, who had 17 points. Sophie Hart added 16 points and four assists and Mallory Heyer chipped in as well with her second double-double this season scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.Â
Minnesota out-rebounded Wisconsin 41-29 in Sunday's game, led by Heyer's 11 boards. The Gophers also grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and scored 21 second chance points.
Minnesota forced 23 Wisconsin turnovers while committing 14 themselves in Sunday's game. The Maroon & Gold turned those takeaways into 23 points on the offensive end of the floor. Amaya Battle led the way individually with four steals.
How It Happened
After playing to a 2-2 tie early in the game, Minnesota went on a 7-0 run with 6:25 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Grocholski, to take a 9-2 lead. Wisconsin then responded to tie things up at 14-14 heading into the second quarter. Minnesota capitalized on seven Wisconsin turnovers in the period, turning them into eight points on the other end of the floor.
Wisconsin then took a 16-14 lead before Minnesota responding by going on a 5-0 run to take a 19-16 lead. The Badgers then battled back to even it up at 28-28 heading into halftime. Minnesota was strong from deep in the period, knocking down two three-point shots to account for six of its 14 points.
After intermission, Minnesota jumped out to a 34-30 lead before going on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Battle, to expand its lead further to 43-30 with 5:04 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Badgers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Gophers still entered the fourth quarter with a 48-38 edge. Minnesota turned four offensive rebounds into four second chance points on the way to scoring 20 total points in the quarter.
Minnesota kept widening that lead, expanding it to 62-50 before going on a 9-0 run, finished off by McKenna Johnson's three, to grow the lead to 71-50 with 28 seconds to go in the contest, a score which would hold for the rest of the game. Minnesota took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 14 of its 23 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» Minnesota was joined by 62 former Gophers on Alumni Day
» Mallory Heyer notched her second double-double this season, with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
» The Gophers shared the ball well, recording an assist on 72 percent of made field goals.
» Minnesota had a 41-29 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Minnesota defense forced 23 turnovers.
» Minnesota cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 18 offensive boards in the game.
» Grace Grocholski led the Gophers with a game-high 17 points.
» Mallory Heyer nabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to lead Minnesota and Amaya Battle contributed 6.
