Kelly Paces Gophers In Win Over Wisconsin

MINNEAPOLIS (gophersports.com) –Shae Kelley scored a career-high 33 points and added 14 rebounds to pace the University of Minnesota (19-6, 8-5) women's basketball team to a 93-82 win over Wisconsin (8-15, 4-9) Wednesday night at Williams Arena. Kelley shot 10-of-21 from the field and connected on a career-best 13 of her 14 free throw attempts in helping secure the Maroon and Gold’s 19th victory of the season.
Along with Kelley, three additional Gophers scored in double-figures, including Amanda Zahui B., who notched her 18th double-double of the season with 21 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals. Carlie Wagner added 17 points and four rebounds and Shayne Mullaney contributed 14 points and nine assists in the win.

Minnesota put together a strong first half against the Badgers, as it headed into the locker room at halftime leading the visitors, 38-28. The Maroon and Gold held Wisconsin scoreless for the final 4:20 of the opening stanza and also boasted a significant advantage on the glass, out-rebounding Wisconsin, 29-17. The Gophers went to the line 15 times through the first 20 minutes of play, while the Badgers were held off the line in the first half.

Kelley finished the half with 15 points and seven rebounds to pace the home team, while Wagner added eight points and Mullaney and Zahui each contributed six points.
The Maroon and Gold cruised to a 17-point lead midway through the second half, its largest lead of the game, before Wisconsin cut the advantage to six points, 79-73, with 3:59 to play following a 17-6 run. Minnesota bounced back with a 7-1 run to push its lead back to 12 points, before closing out the contest with an 11-point advantage.

The Gophers are back in action Sunday when they travel to University Park, Pa., for a Big Ten rematch at Penn State. Tip off for the contest is set for 1 p.m. and can be heard on 1340 KROC AM beginning at 12:30 with the pre-game show.