An incredibly fast-paced first half has the #Gophers on top at the break. #FireWithin pic.twitter.com/W8Wkdl3MiS
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) January 21, 2016
Northwestern Wildcats 92
Minnesota Gophers 95
The Gopher women’s basketball team won their second straight Big Ten game Wednesday night, as they held off a second half comeback from Northwestern to pick up 95-92 victory at Williams Arena.
1. Banham continues to count in threes
Rachel Banham continues to lead the Gophers. Her hot shooting was a major key in Minnesota’s victory Wednesday night. Banham was 6-of-10 from the three-point line to lead Minnesota with 32 points.
Banham is no stranger to big games.
Banham with the easy breakaway layup to put her point total up to 30 tonight, her 16th career 30-point game.
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) January 21, 2016
As a team the Gophers were 11-of-21 from behind the arc.
2. Wheels come off in the third
Minnesota was cruising through the first half, but the Wildcats came back in the third. Northwestern outscored the Gophers 33-22 in the third quarter to even the score at 74.
Minnesota native Nia Coffey led the charge for the Wildcats. She finished with 27 points, shooting 10-of-17 from the floor. She also was 3-of-4 from deep.
3. Wagner and Mullaney combine for clutch plays
Carlie Wagner didn’t have her best night shooting the ball, but she made key plays when the Gophers needed her. Wagner finished with 23 points including some clutch free throws down the stretch.
Shayne Mullaney hit some big shots too, especially in the first half as she provided the Gophers with 14 off the bench.
Up Next:
Minnesota (12-6, 4-3 in Big Ten) travels to Wisconsin on Saturday.
