Comeback complete! #Gophers grab the win over Illinois at the Barn. #FireWithin pic.twitter.com/MQ8q0dShw0
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) January 27, 2016
Illinois Fighting Illini 77
Minnesota Gophers 82
The Minnesota Gophers women’s basketball team picked up a dramatic come-from-behind win Tuesday night when they beat Illinois 82-77 at ‘The Barn.’
1. Gophers battle back for 4th straight win
While the Gopher men have been struggling in conference play, the women have not. Tuesday night’s win was Minnesota’s fourth straight Big Ten win.
To get it the Gophers had to battle back from a 16 point halftime deficit. They did that by outscoring the Illini 29-14 in the third quarter, including a big run.
Wagner three-pointer makes it a 26-11 run in third quarter to cut it to 56-55 with 1:57 left. Wagner only player in double figures with 13.
— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) January 27, 2016
2. Banham bombs clutch three’s
Gopher guard Rachel Banham found a way to make some clutch shots when her team needed her the most. The senior knocked down six threes in the game, including two in the final moments to give the Gophers the lead.
WATCH: Ice. Cold. @RachelBanham15 hits the three with a minute left to give @GopherWBB the lead. https://t.co/VtzN90SNhl
— Minnesota Golden Gophers (@GopherSports) January 27, 2016
Banham finished with 27 points to lead the way for the Gophers.
3. Wittinger overwhelms Gophers on the glass
Senior forward Alex Wittinger led the Illini. She finished with a double-double with 27 points and 15 rebounds, including nine boards on the offensive glass.
Wittinger also blocked four shots, but it just wasn’t enough.
Up Next:
The Gophers (14-6, 6-3 Big Ten) travel to Michigan on Sunday to face the Wolverines.
