(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) MILWAUKEE – Marquette University erased an early double-digit deficit and briefly seized control in the second quarter, but No. 17 Minnesota used a late first-half surge and a strong effort on the glass to hold off the Golden Eagles, 87-79, Saturday afternoon at the Al McGuire Center.
Minnesota opened the game on a 12-0 run during the first three-and-a-half minutes before Marquette found its footing. Once it did, the Golden Eagles’ up-tempo style became a problem for the Gophers. Marquette answered with a 24-8 run, fueled by five 3-pointers from Jordan Meulemans (2), Halle Vice (2) and Kayl Petersen (1), turning a 12-point deficit into a 24-20 lead early in the second quarter.
The Golden Eagles still led 26-24 after a layup from Vice midway through the period, but Minnesota responded behind through the outside shooting of Grace Grocholski. Three Grocholski triples during the final six minutes of the half helped the Gophers regain control and carry a 41-33 advantage into the locker room.
Minnesota extended its lead throughout the third quarter and pushed the margin to 66-52 entering the fourth. The Gophers maintained a double-digit advantage for much of the final period and led by as many as 14 with just over four minutes to play.
Trailing by 13 following a 3-pointer by Leah Harmon with 4:16 remaining, Marquette made one final push. The Golden Eagles scored seven straight points, highlighted by baskets from Vice, Petersen and Yu Han Lin, to trim the deficit to 77-71 with 2:22 left. MacKenzie Givens got the deficit down to five but Harmon answered with a 3-pointer with 1:12 on the clock as the shot clock was winding down. The Gophers use the foul line down the stretch to secure the victory.
Vice led all scorers with 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting while adding six rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Lin finished with 14 points and five assists, Petersen added 12 points and four rebounds, and Givens chipped in 10 points.
Marquette shot 58.2% from the floor and recorded 21 assists on 32 made field goals, but Minnesota’s 40-24 rebounding advantage, including 21 offensive boards, proved pivotal.
NOTABLES
- Minnesota is the first top-20 nonconference ranked opponent to play at the Al McGuire Center since No. 10 Mississippi State on Nov. 25, 2019.
- Halle Vice recorded the 12th 20-point game of her career with a game-high 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting.
- Marquette shot 58.2% from the field, just the fourth time the team has shot over 58% in a game during the past five seasons.
- MU assisted on 21 of its 32 made baskets.
- The Golden Eagles had four players score in double figures for the second-straight game.
- Kinley Asp and Yu Han Lin shared the team lead with five assists apiece.
- Minnesota held a 40-24 advantage on the glass, including 21 offensive rebounds which resulted in a 21-2 edge in second-chance points.
UP NEXT
Marquette continues its three-game homestand to start the year, hosting Presbyterian on Tuesday for Milwaukee Public Schools Day. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT
Comments