The Minnesota Gophers women’s basketball team secured the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT) title with a 75-63 win against the Belmont Bruins at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. It is a landmark success for the Gophers, who had advanced to a national postseason tournament championship game for the second straight year after reaching the WNIT final last season.
Game Highlights
Freshman guard Tori McKinney posted a season-best 26 points. McKinney’s production was impressive, hitting 10 of her initial 11 shots, including getting to the 26-point score with more than five minutes to go in the third quarter. Her play helped create a comfortable lead for Minnesota.
Sophomore forward Mallory Heyer was also instrumental, scoring a double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Heyer’s rebounding presence and scoring on the boards gave the Gophers a great advantage in the paint.
Defensive Dominance
Minnesota’s defense established the tone early, starting the game with an 11-2 spurt. The Gophers’ defensive pressure forced Belmont to shoot just 1-of-9 in the first eight minutes. The Bruins had attempted only 3 of 13 shots and had committed six turnovers by the end of the first quarter, indicative of Minnesota’s defense.
Throughout the course of the game, the Gophers proved to be consistent in their defense, keeping Belmont to a field goal percentage that stifled any real offensive thrust. Minnesota’s capacity to shatter Belmont’s offensive rhythm played a major part in winning the championship.
Belmont’s Work and Comeback Bid
In spite of being down by a significant margin, Belmont showed grit during the later part of the game. The Bruins were able to close the margin to the single digits when Kendal Cheesman made a three-pointer with slightly more than three minutes left to cut the score to 67-58. Minnesota then countered by making a disputed layup by Heyer to widen the margin and essentially put an end to Belmont’s comeback attempt.
Notable Contributions
Along with McKinney and Heyer, sophomore guard Amaya Battle added a lot with 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, displaying her playmaking skills and versatility. Belmont’s Jailyn Banks topped the scoring with 17 points, while Sanaa Tripp had 13 points. Cheesman and Tuti Jones had 11 points each, indicating the Bruins’ balanced effort.
Historical Context and Significance
This title is especially important to Minnesota, their first national postseason tournament championship in a few years. The back-to-back performance of the Gophers in finals of the tournament shows the program’s improving trend and dedication to excellence. For Belmont, their entry into their first national postseason championship game in the 57-year history of the program is a landmark and is the stepping stone to more successful years to come.
The Gophers’ victory in the WBIT championship not only gives their program an elite title but also indicates the team’s growth and potential. With major contributors such as McKinney and Heyer highlighting their exceptional ability, Minnesota’s women’s basketball program seems destined for further success in the upcoming seasons.
While the team rejoices at this victory, the attention will eventually turn towards capitalizing on this momentum and pushing for more achievements in the coming competitions.
