University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
16-6,7-4Big Ten
Purdue
11-11,3-8Big Ten
Minnesota Defeats Purdue for Fourth Straight Big Ten Win, 88–55
2/1/2026 4:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota shot 50 percent from deep in the win
MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota women's basketball team (16-6, 7-4 Big Ten) shot 50 percent from three-point range on the way to an 88-55 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers (11-11, 3-8 Big Ten) at home Sunday.
The Golden Gophers had three players score in double figures, led by Amaya Battle, who had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Sophie Hart tacked on 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks and Tori McKinney helped out with 14 points, five assists and two steals.
Minnesota out-rebounded Purdue 32-31 in Sunday's game, paced by Battle's nine boards.
The Minnesota defense was a problem in Sunday's game, forcing 15 Purdue turnovers while committing seven. Those takeaways turned into 21 points on the offensive end of the floor. Grace Grocholski led the way individually for the Gophers with three steals.
How It Happened
Minnesota started out the scoring by going on a 6-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Mara Braun, to take an early lead with 7:57 left in the first quarter. The Gophers then added three points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 21-12 advantage. Minnesota did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 12 of its 21 points close to the basket.
Minnesota built that first quarter lead to 36-23 before going on a 7-0 run starting at the 2:31 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Battle, to increase its lead to 43-23, a score that would hold until halftime. Minnesota dominated in the paint, scoring 14 of its 22 points close to the basket.
Minnesota continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 14-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Niamya Holloway, to expand its lead further to 64-30 with 2:08 to go in the third. The Gophers held onto that lead for the rest of the frame and entered the fourth quarter with a 66-32 edge. Minnesota played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 23 points in the paint.
Minnesota started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Grocholski's jumper, to grow the lead to 71-32 with 8:56 to go in the contest. The Boilermakers narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Golden Gophers still cruised the rest of the way for the 88-55 win. Minnesota got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 13 of its 22 total points.
Game Notes
» The Gophers made half of their attempts from three point range, knocking down six of 12 shots.
» The Gophers held the Boilermakers to only 37.3 percent shooting from the field.
» The Gophers never trailed after taking a 21-12 first quarter lead.
» Minnesota tallied 20 total assists in the game.
» The Minnesota bench came alive by scoring 28 points to its scoring output.
» Minnesota shot 60 percent from the floor to economically reach their 88 point total.
» Minnesota had a 32-31 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Minnesota defense forced 15 turnovers.
» The Gophers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying seven blocks as a team.
» Minnesota turned the ball over seven times while dishing out 20 assists.
» Amaya Battle led the Gophers with a game-high 17 points.
» Minnesota got a team-high nine rebounds from Amaya Battle.
