Excitement buzzes through the streets of downtown Minneapolis as the sound of drums fills the air. Fans in maroon and gold rush towards the Target Center, anticipation dancing in their eyes. It’s a historic night for the Big Ten Women’s Tournament, with tickets sold out for the first time ever.
The Gopher women’s basketball team takes center stage against the passionate Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Both teams have gone through adversity this season, losing star players as Rutgers is without their leading scorer, sophomore Kaylene Smickle, but they still have the power of sophomore Destiny Adams. “She’s an amazing player,” said redshirt freshman Niamya Holloway. But that wasn’t enough to stop this Gopher team, adding, “My toughness and wanting to get stops and knowing that my team was behind me, knowing that if I could keep her where I had to keep her, knowing they would be right there to help me. That was really encouraging.”
The referee tosses the ball into the air, signaling the start of the game. With a height advantage, Rutgers gains possession, but the Gophers refuse to be intimidated. In a flash, sophomore star Amaya Battle steals the ball, igniting the crowd with thunderous applause. With precision, she passes to freshman Ayianna Johnson, who effortlessly scores. It’s a moment that sets the tone for the rest of the game – the Gophers are here to compete.
Throughout the game, Battle’s leadership shines brightly. “After I hit the three off the screen and Mara was like I know you were feeling it because you never do that,” said Battle. Her confidence and poise inspire her teammates, instilling a sense of determination and unity. With every dribble, pass, and shot, the Gopher team showcases their unwavering resolve.
As the final buzzer echoed through the Target Center, the Minnesota women’s basketball team erupted in celebration. Amaya Battle’s record-breaking performance had propelled them to victory against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. With 32 points under her belt, zero turnovers, five rebounds, and seven assists, Battle not only etched her name in the annals of Big Ten Tournament history for the most points by a Gopher but also showcased her control and confidence as a leader on the court.
But it wasn’t just Battle who shone brightly in the spotlight. After tearing her ACL and being out last season, Niamya Holloway dazzled with her all-around performance, contributing seven points, nine rebounds, and three steals off the bench. Her relentless energy and tenacity ignited the Gophers, while Grace Grocholski’s 12 points added to the team’s offensive firepower.
First-year coach Dawn Plitzuweit was so proud of her team, saying, “Our young ladies played with a lot of energy and intensity and did a lot of great things.” She emphasized the star performance of Holloway and Battle, saying, “These two ladies that are sitting up here just played their best basketball games that I’ve ever seen them play in their careers at this point in time. Amaya did a great job handling the basketball for us, making great decisions with it. Then she scored a lot too.” “Nia made some big-time plays for us on both ends of the court defensively doing her best inside against the physicality of Rutgers and then on the offensive end having five offensive rebounds is just incredible effort and incredible intensity.”
The game wasn’t without its challenges, but the Minnesota defense rose to the occasion, forcing turnovers and converting them into crucial points. With each steal and fast break, the Gophers built momentum, driving towards victory.
As the game unfolded, Minnesota’s dominance became evident. From a commanding lead in the first quarter to a hard-fought battle in the final minutes, the Golden Gophers showcased resilience and determination. Despite Rutgers’ attempts to narrow the gap, Minnesota held firm, securing their first Big Ten Tournament victory since 2020. Battle emphasized how much this win means to her, saying, “It means a lot,” adding, “Especially after last year we didn’t make it past the first day and we made it past the first day and obviously we lost Mara and Soph so just showing our resilience and how we’re able to stay together and battle no matter the circumstances.”
With the win secured, attention now turns to the next challenge: a showdown against No. 6 seed Michigan at 8 p.m. tonight. “Michigan is a team that is really disciplined and really attacks you. They defend at a high level and can really make life difficult for you, getting it inside all things that will provide incredible challenges for us and so now we have to get recovered first.” “Our players haven’t really been through this. In terms of what it takes to recover and now we have to do that first and foremost and then get ready tomorrow on a quick prep and we haven’t really done that before so that’s going to be another great challenge for us but one that I think our players are very excited about.”
As the Gophers prepare to face their next opponent, they carry with them the confidence and momentum garnered from their triumph over Rutgers. With history on their side and their sights set on victory, Minnesota stands ready to write the next chapter in their tournament journey. “Really proud of our young ladies on how we bounced back from adverse situations and really excited to continue playing and to move on,” expressed Coach Plitzuweit with a smile on her face.