University of Minnesota Athletics

2017-18 Golden Gophers - NCAA Tournament Second Round

Minnesota 89, Green Bay 77
March 16, 2018
NCAA Tournament First Round
Eugene, Ore.

Game Summary:
No. 10 Minnesota outscored No. 7 Green Bay, 57-35, in the second half en route to an 89-77 win over the Phoenix in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Minnesota was led by Kenisha Bell, who scored 24 of her game-high 26 points in the second half. She did most of her damage at the line, setting program tournament game records for free throws made (14) and attempted (17). She added five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Destiny Pitts scored 20 points in her NCAA Tournament debut, going 5-of-7 at the 3-point line to tie a Minnesota tournament record for 3-pointers made. Gadiva Hubbard (16), Carlie Wagner (15) and Jessie Edwards (12) also reached double figures. Edwards was also the team’s leading rebounder, pulling down a game-high nine boards.
 
A 3-pointer from Wagner put the Golden Gophers ahead 27-25 less than three minutes into the second quarter, but the Phoenix responded with an 8-0 run. It was part of a quarter that saw the Phoenix outscore the Gophers 25-10 and take a 42-32 lead into the locker room.
 
Green Bay extended its lead to as much as 13 during the third quarter, but the Gophers used a 19-4 run to turn a 12-point deficit into a three-point lead in the fourth. Green Bay briefly took the lead at 72-71, but Pitts answered the Phoenix’s go-ahead 3-pointer with one of her own. Green Bay got within one at 78-77 with 3:22 to play, but Minnesota closed out the game on an 11-0 run.

Oregon 101, Minnesota 73
March 18, 2018
NCAA Tournament Second Round
Eugene, Ore.

Game Summary:
Minnesota saw its run in the NCAA Tournament come to an end in the second round, its best finish in nine years, after a 101-73 loss to second-seeded Oregon.

The Golden Gophers saw four players reach double figures, led by Carlie Wagner’s team-high 20 points. She connected on a program tournament record with six 3-pointers, while the 12 made by the team was also the most for a Minnesota team in a tournament game.

Destiny Pitts scored 17 points, including four 3-pointers, while Kenisha Bell added 14 and led the team with eight assists and five rebounds. Taiye Bello also reached double figures by adding 10 points off the bench.

The turning point of the game came late in the second quarter. After Minnesota cut the lead to 41-36, Oregon embarked on a 16-0 run over a 4:26 stretch between the second and third quarters. The run eventually reached 23-3 to put the Ducks up 64-39 less than three minutes into the second half. Minnesota did not get closer than 23 points the rest of the way.

Oregon was led by Sabrina Ionescu, who had 29 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, while Ruthy Hebard added 22 points and 10 rebounds.