#Gophers stay ahead after the third quarter. Banham leads with 21 points, Mullaney with 13, and Wagner with 12. pic.twitter.com/dw3PH2Red7
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) February 5, 2016
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 72
Minnesota Gophers 85
The Minnesota Gophers responded from having their four game winning streak snapped over the weekend. The Gophers bounced back to beat Rutgers 85-72 at “The Barn” Thursday night.
1. Taking advantage of charity
You don’t have to look too far to figure out the Gophers won the game by getting the job done at the free throw line. Minnesota had 10 fewer fouls called on them Thursday night and got to the free throw line nearly twice as often.
While the Gophers were on the free throw line they took advantage of it, finishing 22-of-28. Carlie Wagner was a perfect 7-of-7 herself.
2. Banham just keeps bringing it
It seems almost every night Rachel Banham is doing something special. She was at it again on Thursday night as the Gopher senior led the way with 24 points. Banham finished the night 10-of-19 shooting, while knocking down a pair of three-pointers.
She had a little help from her backcourt counterpart. Wagner finished with 22 points, giving the Gophers some scoring balance.
3. Thinking tourney?
At 15-7, and 7-4 in the Big Ten the Gophers are putting themselves in the conversation for the NCAA Tournament. The Pioneer Press’ Marcus Fuller writes that Minnesota’s road to the NCAA Tournament starts now.
The next two weeks could go a long ways in determining tourney bids.
Here’s what that stretch looks like:
- Sun. Feb. 7 at Northwestern
- Thu. Feb. 11 vs. Nebraska
- Mon. Feb. 15 vs. Iowa
- Thu. Feb. 18 at Indiana
