Gophers girls lose Mara Braun, then sport to Illinois – Star Tribune

Seconds into the fourth quarter Sunday at Illinois, Mara Braun elevated and let a three-point shot go.
It was nothing however web, and the Gophers led by seven factors.
However an Illini defender did not give Braun room to land. Braun got here down and rolled her foot. Shortly thereafter, she left the sport. Not lengthy after that, the Gophers’ lead was gone for good.
Minnesota misplaced 73-68. The Gophers (14-6, 4-5 Huge Ten) have now misplaced consecutive video games to second-division Huge Ten groups, Wisconsin and Illinois, each on the street.
“We labored laborious and competed,” Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit mentioned. “However the backside line was, they have been in a position to get to the rim any method they wished to within the second half.”
Did Braun’s absence imply a seismic shift in a sport the Gophers led by as many as 11 factors as late as the ultimate three minutes of the third quarter?
No query.
Illinois (9-10, 3-6) outscored Minnesota 19-5 over the subsequent seven-plus minutes to go up seven on Genesis Bryant’s hoop with 2:11 left. From the second Braun hit her ultimate shot, the Gophers have been outscored 23-11.
After struggling along with her shot in current video games, Braun was environment friendly Sunday. She scored 18 factors in 32 minutes, hitting six of 12 field-goal makes an attempt total and 4 of eight three-point tries. She additionally had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and no turnovers.
The Gophers shot 44.4% earlier than Braun was harm, and 28.6% (4-for-14) afterward. So shedding their finest participant had an enormous impact on the Gophers, and her potential absence Wednesday evening might be a giant query because the Gophers put together to host a red-hot Penn State workforce that has received 5 straight and scored 112 factors in a victory over Maryland on Sunday.
However, as Plitzuweit mentioned, the Gophers have been having issues offensively earlier than the harm.
Illinois scored 28 factors within the first half and fell behind by 11, however the Illini shot 15-for-28 total and 4-for-8 on threes whereas scoring 45 second-half factors.
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BOXSCORE: Illinois 73, Gophers 68
Makira Cook dinner (22 factors) and Bryant (19) have been in a position to get into the paint after which both rating, dump it off, go it out for an open shot or get to the free-throw line. Cook dinner, Bryant and put up Camille Pastime (19) scored 42 of Illinois’ 45 second-half factors, combining to hit 15 of 25 field-goal tries within the ultimate two quarters.
The Illini didn’t get to the free-throw line within the first half however went 11-for-13 from the road within the second.
“Bryant and Cook dinner, we struggled to include them,” Plitzuweit mentioned. “We could not preserve ’em away from the rim.”
Amaya Battle had 18 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists, however she didn’t rating within the ultimate quarter. Mallory Heyer (11 factors) and Sophie Hart (10 factors) have been additionally in double figures in scoring.
With the Gophers down seven late, Heyer hit a three-pointer. Greater than a minute later, after consecutive stops, Janay Sanders drove, scored and made the free throw with 35 seconds left to make it a one-point sport.
However with 19 seconds left and Hart on the bench, Pastime scored on a layup. Out of a timeout, Sanders drove the lane however missed, ending the Gophers comeback.
Plitzuweit did not have a definitive replace on Braun’s standing going ahead. She was to be re-evaluated after the workforce’s return to Minneapolis.
“They have been in a position to get to the rim and create with dribble penetration eventualities,” Plitzuweit mentioned. “It obtained more durable for us as the sport went on.”
The Star Tribune didn’t ship the author of this text to the sport. This was written utilizing a broadcast, interviews and different materials.
Kent Youngblood has lined sports activities for the Star Tribune for greater than 20 years.
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