Wagner has really gone cold, but she needs to keep shooting. Gophers need to pick up the pace.
A narrow escape. Wagner and Bello with double-doubles. 21 points, 11 boards (all defensive boards) for Wagner. 10 points and 16 boards for Bello in only 20 minutes. 12 of Bello's boards were offensive boards. I sure wish the Gophers would use full court pressure or half-court traps more often. They showed that earlier in the year, but obviously they weren't serious about it. I admit that I'm not sure how I would have handled the post rotation this year. Bello is certainly the player with the most upside but she's also had a tendency to get in foul trouble. That being said, I think I'd still give her as many minutes as she can handle at the post position. And, yes, i realize that's not her natural position, but she is so much more athletic that the other 3 posts. On to the BIG tournament. I hope the Gophers can heat up with their 3-point shooting or it might be one and done.
Looks like a rubber game with Iowa is inevitable. Gophers have more talent, but Iowa has the best player. Megan Gustafson is a very good player. Gophers will have to double her early and hope she doesn't go off for 30 and 15. 20 and 10 and the Gophers will have a shot. Iowa is a slightly better team than the first game these two teams played, as Iowa's Meyer was coming back from an injury and was a non-factor then. Now that she's had some time to get her legs under her, she is a factor and can shoot some threes. I am thinking that the Gophers will want to dictate the pace in this game and play a real up-tempo game, as the Hawkeyes will have played the day before and they have a somewhat short bench.
Probably still won't crack the top 25 tomorrow, but this has been a fun season.