03/01/26 03:34:00
Printable Page
03/01 15:29 CST No. 22 Minnesota women beat Illinois 78-73, clinch No. 4 seed,
double-bye in Big Ten tourney
No. 22 Minnesota women beat Illinois 78-73, clinch No. 4 seed, double-bye in
Big Ten tourney
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) --- Sophie Hart scored 17 points, Amaya Battle added 10 of
her 16 points in the second half and No. 22 Minnesota beat Illinois 78-73 on
Sunday in the regular-season finale for both teams to clinch a double-bye in
the Big Ten Tournament.
Minnesota (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten), which lost 75-61 to No. 18 Michigan State last
time out, has won 10 of 11 and will be the No. 4 seed in Big Ten Tournament,
which begins Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Gophers tied the program's single-season record for conference wins,
previously set in the 1982-83 and '84-85 seasons.
Berry Wallace hit a 3-pointer before Cearah Parchment drew a charge and then
scored in the post to make it 70-all with 1:01 left in the game, but Grace
Grocholski, Mara Braun and Tori McKinney combined to go 8 of 8 from the
free-throw line from there to seal it.
Braun had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists, Finau Tonga also scored 11
points and McKinney added 10.
Wallace led Illinois (19-10, 9-9) with 15 points while Maddie Webber and
Aaliyah Guyton each scored 14. Parchment and Destiny Jackson added 13 points
apiece.
Hart scored six points in a 14-3 first-quarter run that made it 16-9 with 3:24
left in the period and Minnesota never again trailed.
The Gophers used a 11-3 spurt in the second quarter to push the lead to 15
points before Illinois scored eight consecutive points to close the first half
that made it 36-29 at the intermission.
Up next
Minnesota: Plays Friday in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
Illinois: The 10th-seeded Illini play Wednesday in the first round of the Big
Ten Tournament.
___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up
here. AP women's college basketball:
https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and
https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
|