Minnesota used a late run to keep it close
On Monday, the Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball team found out that they were ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2019. On Tuesday, the Gophers played their toughest opponent of the season, and it may be a quick one and done for a ranked Gophers squad. The #24 ranked Gophers fell at #8 Maryland 99-92 in a game that was much closer than it appeared after the Gophers went on a 19-2 run late in the 4th quarter to cut the Maryland lead from 20 to just three points before the Terrapins iced the game going 4-4 from the free throw line.
Minnesota did find out Monday that they snuck into the AP Poll at #24. Tuesday they entered the USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Poll at #25. It was the first time they had been ranked in either poll since 2019. Minnesota was last ranked in the AP poll on December 30, 2019 after 12 straight wins saw them ranked #24. It was almost a year earlier when the Gophers were last ranked in the Coaches Poll when on January 15, 2019 they were ranked #25 as well.
Minnesota took their new ranking into a matchup against their toughest foe of the season in #8 Maryland. The Terrapins came into the game with a 15-1 record and a 5-1 record in Big Ten play. Their only loss came to #4 USC a a week ago. But the Gophers were not intimidated. Maryland never took a lead larger than three points in the opening quarter before the Gophers went on a 5-0 run midway through to take a two point lead they would continue to hold for the rest of the quarter taking a 19-17 lead after the opening ten minutes. Minnesota scored 14 of their points in the paint trying to take in right down the Terrapin’s throats.
The teams continued to bounce back and forth in the early portion of the second quarter trading small leads before the Terps took control outscoring the Gophers 15-10 in the final fin minutes of the quarter to take a 42-37 lead into the break.
Maryland would stretch that lead even further in the third quarter as they trippled up the Gophers on the boards 9-3, went 3-3 from beyond the arc and outscored the Gophers 9-0 on the fast break. Minnesota trailed 71-60 headed into the fourth quarter.
The start of the fourth quarter was much of the same. Minnesota just could not keep up, and Maryland would stretch their lead to 20 at 93-73 with 2:59 to play in the game. But then the Gophers woke up. Minnesota would go on a 16-0 run and force three Maryland turnovers in that stretch to cut the lead to just four at 93-89 with 36 second to play. After a pair of free throw makes for Maryland, Annika Stewart hit a three pointer to get the Gophers within three at 95-92 with just 20 second left to play. But that would be as close as the Gophers would get. Maryland went 4-4 on free throws in the final 20 seconds and capped off a perfect 21-21 game from the stripe for the Terrapins to pull out a 99-92 win.
The referees did not help Minnesota in this game as Maryland got some good home cooking. Minnesota had 25 fouls called on them compared to just 16 for the Terps. Mallory Heyer, Tori McKinney and Sophie Hart all fouled out for the Gophers. Shyanne Sellers led the game with 27 points and nine rebounds for Maryland. Minnesota was led by Amaya battle with 19 points and six assists. She was joined in double figures by Grace Grocholski with 16, Heyer with 15, and Hart with 14.
Minnesota is next in action at Northwestern on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats are 0-5 in the Big Ten this season, so this is another must win game for the Gophers.