University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
15-6,6-4Big Ten
Penn State
7-15,0-11Big Ten
McKinney and Braun Lead Minnesota Past Penn State 87-66
1/28/2026 7:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -Tori McKinney collected 23 points and Mara Braun added 22 as the Minnesota women's basketball team (15-6, 6-4 Big Ten) defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions (7-15, 0-11 Big Ten) 87-66 on the road Wednesday at Rec Hall.
McKinney and Braun led the Golden Gophers with standout scoring performances. McKinney added three assists and two steals, while Braun contributed three assists, two steals and two blocks. Amaya Battle recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Sophie Hart finished with 12 points.
Minnesota did a great job taking care of the basketball, dishing out 20 assists while turning the ball over eight times. Individually, Hart lent a helping hand the most for the Gophers with four assists.
Minnesota did a great job disrupting Penn State shots in the contest, coming away with six blocks. Braun's two rejections led the way individually for the Gophers.
How It Happened
After falling behind 8-5, Minnesota went on a 10-0 run with 5:38 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Battle, to take a 15-8 lead. The Gophers then maintained that lead and entered the quarter break with a 19-12 advantage. Minnesota did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 16 of its 19 points close to the basket.
Minnesota kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 5-0 run starting at the 9:50 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Battle, to increase its lead to 24-12. The Nittany Lions cut into that lead, but the Gophers still enjoyed a 42-38 advantage heading into halftime. Minnesota dominated in the paint, scoring 12 of its 23 points close to the basket.
Following intermission, Minnesota continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 52-45 before going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Hart, to expand its lead further to 59-45 with 3:27 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Nittany Lions had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Gophers still entered the fourth quarter with a 67-55 edge. Minnesota turned five offensive rebounds into six second chance points on the way to scoring 25 total points in the quarter.
Minnesota kept widening that lead, expanding it to 82-63 before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by McKinney's three, to grow the lead to 87-63 with 48 seconds to go in the contest. The Nittany Lions narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Gophers still cruised the rest of the way for the 87-66 win. Minnesota fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 20 points.
Game Notes
» Battle notched a double-double for the Gophers with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
» The Gophers shot well from three point range, knocking down 10 of 22 long range attempts.
» The Gophers held the Nittany Lions to only 35.4 percent shooting from the field.
» Minnesota tallied 20 total assists in the game.
» The Minnesota defense forced 14 turnovers.
» The Gophers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying six blocks as a team.
» Minnesota turned the ball over eight times while dishing out 20 assists.
» Minnesota cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.
» McKinney led the Gophers with 23 points and Mara Braun added 22.
» Minnesota got a game-high 10 rebounds from Battle.
