Minnesota returns to the Barn for one final time this season
The Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball team will play one final game at Williams Arena for the 2024-25 season when they host the Gonzaga Zags in the WBIT Quarterfinals. Tip is set for 7 PM and will stream live on ESPN+. The winner will advance to the WBIT Final Four to play either Texas Tech or Florida at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis next Monday.
Minnesota earned their spot in the quarterfinals by going on the road and pulling out two hard found games at Toledo and Missouri State. They are the top seed remaining in their portion of the bracket after Gonzaga upset #1 Colorado last Sunday. Thus, after two conflicts and the inability to play on The Barn floor, the Gophers earned one last change to play in front of their home fans Thursday night.
It will be the first time in program history that the Gophers and Gonzaga will face off against one another. Against the WCC (West Coast Conference) the Maroon and Gold hold a record of 15-1 all-time. The Zags tied with Portland for the WCC regular season crown with a conference record of 17-3, but Gonzaga lost in the semifinals of the WCC Tournament as the #1 seed to #4 seed Oregon State who would go on to win and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Gonzaga was given a #4 seed in the WBIT where they defeated UTSA at home before heading to Boulder to upset Colorado in round two.
Minnesota has one job Thursday night and that’s to stop Zags star Yvonne Ejim. The forward was named Associated Press All-American for the second consecutive year after also winning the WCC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year the past two seasons. Ejim ranks 10th nationally in field goals made (252), 12th in points (660) and 15th in points per game (20.6). During the regular season, she led the West Coast Conference in points (642), points per game (20.7), rebounds (270), rebounds per game (8.7), field goals (244), and double-doubles (11). She was also second in the conference in field goal percentage (.527) and free throws made (143), The 6’1 5th year senior will be a tough guard for the Gophers—the responsibility will likely be handed to Mallory Heyer or Tori McKinney.
One Gonzaga player will be returning to a familiar location. McKynnlie Dalan transferred after last season from Minnesota to Gonzaga, but averaged just 3.1 points per game for the Zags this season.
Minnesota is going to need to pound the rock inside to Sophie Hart and crash the boards hard. Gonzaga has struggled against physical foes this season and have a propensity to foul. They also turn the ball over averaging nearly 17 a game. If the Gophers can get Hart working inside and hit free throws, get turnovers and score in transition it should mean a trip to Indy to keep their season alive.