Gophers power past Lady Griz

Sunday, November 24

Minneapolis, Minn.

1 PM (MT)

Montana

3-3

Minnesota

7-0

Montana

Minnesota

Photo by: Torrey A. Vail

11/24/2024 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Montana Sports Information

Minnesota used a 29-7 first-quarter advantage and a strong inside presence to defeat Montana 84-45 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon.

The win keeps the Gophers, who never trailed in the game, unbeaten on the season at 7-0. The Lady Griz, who had won two straight, dropped to 3-3.

Mack Konig led Montana with 12 points, Adria Lincoln added 10, nine of them coming in a three-minute stretch in the second quarter when she hit a pair of 3-pointers and finished off a three-point play.

Tyler McCliment-Call grabbed a season-high eight rebounds, MJ Bruno matched a career high with four assists.

Minnesota used its size and height advantage to all its potential on Sunday, scoring 38 points in the paint and grabbing 21 offensive rebounds, which led to 19 second-chance points.

The Gophers balanced their strong inside play with 11 3-pointers, hitting seven of those in the first half on 14 attempts as Minnesota raced out to a 52-22 halftime lead on 50-percent shooting.

All 84 of Minnesota's points came from either the paint (38), where it shot 19 for 36, the 3-point line (33) or the free throw line (13).

All five Gopher starters had 10 or more points, with 6-foot-5 senior center Sophie Hart scoring 16 on 7-of-11 shooting. Amaya Battle went 4 for 4 from the 3-point line and added 14 points and eight assists.

Minnesota had 24 assists on its 30 made baskets and turned the ball over only seven times. The Gophers out-rebounded Montana 55-35.

Through seven games, Minnesota is averaging 78.3 points while allowing only 46.9.

Montana shot 25.5 percent, its lowest percentage since shooting 23.3 percent in a 65-44 loss to California at Loyola Marymount's Thanksgiving Classic two years ago.

Montana will host Evergreen State (0-2) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.