Gophers WBB top #10 ranked Ohio State 74-61, to win ninth in a row.
The Gophers eventually outlasted the Buckeyes after a defensive rock fight in the first half trailing 29-26. The Gophers held Ohio State to 11/29(37.9%) shooting and forced 7 turnovers to disrupt the offense and hold them to just 29 points in the first two quarters. Meanwhile the Gophers struggled to find their way shooting just 11/40 and 2/10 from beyond the arc. Despite taking 11 more shots and having eight offensive rebounds, they still trailed by three heading into halftime. Mara Braun would comment on this after the game
“It certainly didn’t go our way in the first half but we kept battling… and our defense was showing up….in the second half we were like “guys come on, lets have fun here””
https://twitter.com/GopherHole/status/2024335892727374024?s=20
The third quarter saw the Gophers start to play with their typical joy, the defense elevated to a suffocating level of pressure as they held Ohio State to just 2 points in the first four minutes of the third quarter while forcing three turnovers. The defense fueled the offense and the Gophers were able to jump out to a 7 point lead in that span thanks to the fast play and timely shot making. The run would continue as the Gophers would continue to hold Ohio State’s offense in check and they would stretch their lead to eleven after back to back threes by Grace Grocholski, and a tough and-one by Amaya Battle.
Alas, Ohio State would make a run to close the third, bringing the Gophers lead to just four points,(44-40) before the Gophers would respond over the final two and a half minutes going on a 9-2 run capped off by a Mara Braun three to finish the third 53-42. The Gophers would go 10/15 shooting in the third scoring 27 points and outsourcing the Buckeyes by 14. Meanwhile the defense would hold Ohio State to shooting just 5/14 and only allowing two three point field goal attempts, in which they missed both.
The fourth quarter would go the Gophers way from the start, jumping out to a 16 point lead after a Tori McKinney three ball forced a timeout call from Ohio State with 7:17 remaining. The rest of the game became a nail biter for Minnesota sports fans only, as the Gophers competently ticked time off the clock each possession, breaking the press, using the entire shot clock and then forcing Ohio State to take precious seconds off the clock on the other end as their offense struggled to find quick buckets. The Buckeyes would slowly cut into the Gophers lead cutting it to nine with four minutes left, and then seven with 3:38 to go getting as close as down by just six with 2:08 but a Braun mid range jumper out of a time out all but sealed the game with 1:30 left giving the Gophers an eight point lead. The ensuing possession Grocholski would drain a three for good measure. The Gophers would finish the final 3:38 of the game outscoring Ohio State 7-0. Mara Braun would speak on her game sealing basket
“It felt good, everyone just keeps telling me “keep shooting” just instills so much confidence in me, and (I) don’t let that ever waiver”
https://twitter.com/GopherHole/status/2024338400711520405?s=20
The win is the ninth straight win for the Gophers and the third time this season they have beaten a ranked opponent. With two games remaining in regular season play the Gophers will host #18 Michigan State on Sunday for Senior night then travel to Illinois after a bye week to close the season. The Gophers currently rank ninth in net rating and 3rd in the big ten in defensive rating.
Dawn Plitzuweit opening statement
https://twitter.com/GopherHole/status/2024326749903839423?s=20
Mara Braun and Sophie Hart press conference
https://twitter.com/GopherHole/status/2024328551353274388?s=20
Dawn Plitzuweit press conference
https://twitter.com/GopherHole/status/2024335615702303115?s=20