Sunday, December 9, 2018

Dec. 9--Gopher women battle back for big win at BC

The Minnesota Gopher women again battled from behind to defeat an eastern power, this time on the road. The Boston College Eagles led the Gophers 60-56 with 7:38 remaining when the Gophers took over with an 11-0 run. Taiye Bello and Jasmine Brunson each scored twice while Kenisha Bell and Destiny Pitts each had a key steal. BC finally broke a 7 minute scoring drought to get within 67-63 with 45 seconds remaining. But Pitts threw dagger after dagger at the Eagles ini the form of 10-for-10 FT inside of 45 seconds to seal the deal.

Pitts scored a career high 35 points, playing all 40 minutes and shooting 9-of-13 FG (3-of-5 2s and 6-of-8 3s) and 11-of-12 FT. Analese Lamke added 13 points and 9 boards, and Jasmine Brunson 11 points and 5 assists. Bell did not have her best night with 8 points on 3-of-14 shooting but added 6 assists and 3 steals. Bello played just 17 minutes due to fouls but still managed 8 boards. Mercedes Staples took a few games to get her stride but was ready today to play 20 minutes and score 4 points on 2-of-4 shooting, including a key bucket during the Gophers big 11-0 run.

The Gophers shot 43 percent, but 58 percent on 3s and out-rebounded BC 43-35.

So it was a great team effort, and again a great team effort pushed through a bit of adversity, but it was Destiny Pitts who came up really big for coach Lindsay Whalen's Gophers this time around. She started the year in a shooting slump (9-of-35 3s, 26 percent) but has now made 11-of-17 (65 percent) the past 2 games.

Player of the Day--Destiny Pitts, of course
Team of the Day--Gopher women, of course
Coach of the Day--what, you gotta ask?

No comments:

Post a Comment