Rachel Banham broke more women’s college basketball records Sunday as she scored 60 points in Minnesota’s double overtime win over Northwestern.
Banham’s total shattered the U of M and Big Ten Conference records for points in a game (44 and 49, respectively) and tied the NCAA record set in 1987 by Cindy Brown of Long Beach State.
Banham scored 10 points in the first overtime, including a layup with two seconds left to tie the game and force overtime number two. She added eight more points in that one as the Gophers downed the Wildcats 112-106 in Evanston.
Record-breaker right here: https://t.co/mhrbbkaVKO
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) February 7, 2016
On a day when most of the sports world was focused on the Super Bowl, Banham’s accomplishment managed to take some of the spotlight off the pre-game festivities.
Meanwhile… Minnesota's Rachel Banham scores 60 in 2OT win, tying D-I single-game scoring record. (via @GopherWBB) pic.twitter.com/YVWGap8NsF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 7, 2016
Banham told the Big Ten Network: “My teammates set me up so well. I was just feeling really good, and I’m so happy we got that win.”
Carlie Wagner added 21 points for the Gophers.
Banham is a 5’9″ senior from Lakeville who missed most of last season with a knee injury.
She made 19 of 32 shots against Northwestern, including eight three pointers.
Not since Lindsay Whalen in 2002 had a Gopher woman scored 40 in a game. The record holder until Sunday was Carol Ann Shudlick, who scored 44 points in 1991 and again in ’93 and was on hand in Evanston for Banham’s epic performance.
SCHOOL RECORD. @rachelbanham15 has 45 points, breaking Carol Ann Shudlick's (who is here) old mark.
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) February 7, 2016
Banham passed Whalen to become Minnesota’s all time leading scorer in November in a game that also went to overtime. But that one ended with the Gophers losing to Auburn.
Sunday’s victory means the Gophers have won six of their last seven games. They’re 8-4 in the Big Ten, which puts them in fourth place.
