Final: #Gophers fall in the #B1GTourney quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/8DB9mqc3Z8
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) March 7, 2015
The Gopher women’s basketball team was eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament Friday night, falling to Ohio State 83-71 in Chicago.
Minnesota got out to a slow start as Ohio State built a 12-point first half lead and the Gophers just weren’t able to come back from it.
The Gophers hurt themselves with turnovers in the early going and finished the night with 22 of them. Minnesota didn’t shoot the ball very well either, making just under 38 percent from the floor. They struggled from the outside, finishing just 4-of-16 from downtown.
Kelsey Mitchell played another solid game for the Buckeyes, she scored 29 points to lead the way, while teammates Alexa Hart and Shayla Cooper each had double-doubles. Hart finished with 17 points and 10 boards, while Cooper had 17 and 11.
Amanda Zahui B. and Shae Kelley did what they could to keep the Gophers in it. Zahui finished with an impressive triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks.
23 points, 10 rebounds, 11 blocks! @GophersWBB's Amanda Zahui B. records a triple-double. What a talent! #MarchOnBTN http://t.co/bwplDpoYa6
— Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) March 7, 2015
Kelley had a double-double of her own with 23 points and 13 boards, but it wasn’t enough.
The Gophers (23-9) will wait for an invitation from the NCAA Selection committee before they know when or where they will be playing next. Ohio State advances to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Saturday.
