MINNESOTA STATE MANKATO TOOK ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN A WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME

Minnesota State Mankato traveled to Williams Arena for a women's basketball game. According to a press release by the University of Minnesota, “Minnesota State, a NCAA Division II program, is coming off a 2011-12 season in which it posted an 18-11 overall record. The Mavericks return five starters from last season, including its top two returners, sophomores Jamie Bresnahan and Aubrey Davis, who were each named to the NSIC All-Freshman Team a year ago. Bresnahan averaged 9.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and Davis averaged 10.6 points and 2.9 assists per game for Minnesota State.”

Minnesota won the tip. Mankato started the game out in a man-to-man defense. They wanted to make it hard for the Gophers to score baskets.

Both teams looked to push the ball down the floor and not waste any time looking for shots.

Mankato had a hard time hitting shots early. They didn't give up on themselves as they kept shooting shots even though they were not going in.

At the first media timeout with 15:59 left in the first half the score was Minnesota 5 and Mankato 0.

Minnesota's Micaella Riche was not afraid to shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor. She knew where her teammates were and able to get them into the offense.

The Gophers got their hands into the passing lanes and were able to get deflections and looked to get steals.

Riche did a good job of getting rebounds or getting on the floor to go after loose balls and rebounds.

There was a media timeout with 11:23 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 14 and Mankato 0.

Banham was all over the floor as she was able to get to the basket and get her shot to fall. She was also able to get her teammates involved in the plays.

There was a media timeout with 7:13 left in the first half. The score was Minnesota 22 and Mankato 14.

Mankato laid off the full court press after the media timeout as they picked up at half court. Minnesota was able to blow past Mankato on offense.

Mankato kept on putting up shots throughout the first half. They didn't let the Minnesota pressure bother them at all.

Minnesota did a good job of swinging the ball around the three-point line as they got everyone involved in the offense.

At the last media timeout of the first half with 3:09 remaining the score was Minnesota 31 and Mankato 22.

Mankato was able to get the ball into the hands of Alyssa Van Klei. She was able to shoot the ball from where ever she wanted to on the floor and hit shots.

At halftime the score was Minnesota 41 and Mankato 28.

As the second half got underway Minnesota continued to push the ball down the floor and tried to keep it away from Mankato.

Minnesota continued to move the ball around on the offensive end.

There was a media timeout with 15:45 left in regulation. The score was Minnesota 48 and Mankato 33.

Banham continued to be an emotional leader on the floor as she shouted out directions to her teammates on where she wanted them to go on the floor.

Mankato went flat after the first media timeout in the second half. They couldn't shoot the ball as the Gopher defense was too much for them to handle. Mankato didn't give up as they fought through screens and looked for shots.

There was a media timeout with 11:17 left in regulation. The score was Minnesota 55 and Mankato 38.

Mankato looked to go on a run late in the contest but they were unable to do so.

There was a media timeout with 7:48 left in regulation. The score was Minnesota 57 and Mankato 47.

Mankato did a good job of fighting back. They didn't quit throughout the game.

At the final timeout the score was Minnesota 64 and Mankato 52.

In a game that was an even tempo Minnesota was able to hold on to the victory. I thought that both teams played well and there will be improvements made as the season goes on. Mankato did a good job of not breaking to the pressure that Minnesota applied.

Minnesota came away with the 66-56 victory over Mankato. Mankato shot 20-64 from the field. That included going 5-19 from behind the three-point line. They were 11-16 from the free throw line. Mankato brought down a total of 34 rebounds 21 of them on the defensive end.

Minnesota shot 26-55 from the field. That included going 2-7 from behind the three-point line. Minnesota was 12-17 from the free throw line. They brought down a total of 46 rebounds 34 of them on the defensive end.

After the game head coach Pam Bortonand players Micaella Riche and Sari Noga addressed the media to talk about the contest.

Tony Geer from Community Hoops shot pictures of the contest. Check out his collection of photos on Flickr.