NORTHWESTERN TOOK ON MINNESOTA IN A WOMENS BASKETBALL GAME

Northwestern and Minnesota went up against each other in a womens basketball game on Jan. 12.

 

Northwestern came into the game with a record of 11-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten. Minnesota came into the game with a record of 11-5 and 0-2 in the Big Ten.

 

Northwestern started the game in a zone defense.

 

The score went back and forth early in the contest. It took each team awhile to get accustomed to what the other team was doing.

 

Northwestern took a timeout with 17:32 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 7, Northwestern 2.

 

Minnesota did a good job of communicating while they were on the floor. They knew where each other were on the court and they knew what plays that they wanted run.

 

Both teams did a good job of getting out and looked to score baskets in transition.

 

There was a media timeout with 15:26 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 11, Northwestern 6.

 

Northwestern forward Lauren Douglas was not afraid to shoot deep three-point shots. Her teammates did a good job of getting her the ball while she was near the three-point line and she was able to knock them down. 

 

Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui got the ball on the low block and was able to make layups. She was not afraid to take it hard to the basket.

 

There was a media timeout with 11:33 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 17, Northwestern 13.

 

Northwestern used a lot of time off the shot clock. They passed the ball around the three-point line as they looked to get everyone involved in the offense. They looked to score layups in transition. The pace of the game picked up with just under 11:00 to play in the first half.

 

There was a media timeout with 7:54 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 20, Northwestern 15.

 

Minnesota’s Kayla Hirt got her shots to drop late in the first half. She knocked down some nice jumpers and lay-ups.

 

There was a media timeout with 3:56 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 30, Northwestern 17.

 

Minnesota kept on attacking the basket late in the first half.

 

Zahui got most of her points on layups in the first half.

 

At halftime the score was Minnesota 42, Northwestern 26.

 

As the second half got underway Minnesota continued to push the ball down the floor and look for baskets in transition.

 

Riche continued to take the ball hard to the basket. She was able to constantly hit shots throughout the contest.

 

There was a media timeout with 15:47 left in the second half. The score was Minnesota 52, Northwestern 37.

 

Minnesota’s Rachel Banham ran the offense well. She called out plays and instructed her teammates on where they were supposed to be on the floor.

 

Minnesota’s Sari Noga came up big in the second She made good decisions with the ball as she was able to get her teammates the ball in spots where they could shoot it. However if Noga thought that she had a good shot she wasn’t afraid to shoot it herself.

 

There was a media timeout with 11:52 left in the second half. The score was Minnesota 62, Northwestern 41.

 

Minnesota kept attacking the basket. Northwestern wasn’t able to slow down Minnesota’s offensive production.

 

Banham wasn’t afraid of contact when she drove to the basket. She attacked the basket hard and was able to get to the free-throw line and make free-throws.

 

There was a media timeout with 7:30 left in the second half. The score was Minnesota 76, Northwestern 49.

 

Both teams continued to go after loose balls on both ends of the floor.

 

Minnesota was too much for Northwestern. Northwestern didn’t give up however they kept fighting throughout the game.

 

At the final media timeout with 3:49 left in the second half. The score was Minnesota 86, Northwestern 56.

 

As the game drew to a close the Northwestern players looked dejected and deflated.

 

Minnesota came away with the 94-59 victory over Northwestern.

 

As a team Northwestern shot 19-61 from the field that included going 3-17 from behind the three-point line. They were 18-21 from the free throw line. Northwestern brought down a total of 35 rebounds 27 on the defensive end. Northwestern was lead in scoring by Coffey with 19 points and Maggie Lyon with 15 points.

 

As a team Minnesota shot 28-63 from the field that included going 9-20 from behind the three-point line. They were 29-35 from the free throw line. Minnesota brought down a total of 49 rebounds 35 of them on the defensive end. Minnesota was lead in scoring by Banham with 28 points, Noga 17 points, and Shayne Mullaney with 13 points.

 

TUBBY SMITH AGREES TO CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH THE 2016-2017 BASKETBALL SEASON

The following is from a media release from the University of Minnesota regarding the signing of Tubby Smith's contract extension.

"University of Minnesota director of athletics Norwood Teague announced today that head men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith has agreed to terms on a contract extension through the 2016-17 season.

“I am pleased to announce that Coach Smith and Gopher Athletics have agreed on a contract extension,” Teague said. “Tubby took over our program at a difficult time and quickly got it headed back in the right direction, both athletically and academically. Since then, Gopher basketball has continued to make strides under his leadership with four postseason appearances, including last year’s exciting run to the NIT tile game. I look forward to working with Coach Smith into the future to help lift Gopher basketball to even greater heights.”

Smith and the Gophers are coming off of a 23-win season and an appearance in the 2012 NIT Championship game.  The 23 wins are the most at Minnesota since the 1989-90 team also won 23 games.

“We are excited about the extension and know that the University of Minnesota is the right place for us,” said Smith. “I believe that we can get the job done here. The commitment from the university is there to continue to grow the program and I am looking forward to being a part of that. I appreciate the faith that Norwood Teague and President Kaler have in our staff and what we are trying to accomplish here. I am focused on reaching our full potential as a program. That is why we came here five years ago and it is still our goal.”

Smith, who has led Minnesota to two NCAA berths and two NIT appearances his five seasons, will enter the 2012-13 season with a record of 103-68 and currently sits with the fourth-highest winning percentage in program history. His 103 victories are the most in the first five years of a coaching tenure in school history. He won his 100th game in Gold Country against La Salle in the opening round of the NIT to become one of only eight coaches in Minnesota history to amass 100 wins.

Smith’s overall record in 21 seasons as a head men’s basketball coach is 490-213."