Rachel Banham breaks Lindsay Whalen's career scoring mark in OT loss

Senior Rachel Banham became the Gophers' all-time scoring leader.

By NEWS SERVICES

November 29, 2015 at 1:42PM
Minnesota guard Rachel Banham.
Aurburn forward Jazmine Jones pressures Minnesota guard Rachel Banham during a NCAA college basketball game in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. Banham scored 29 points to become the Gophers' all-time leading scorer. (Brian Stensaas — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

GUAYNABO, Puerto RIco – Gophers senior Rachel Banham broke the school's all-time women's basketball scoring record Saturday evening against Auburn in the San Juan Shootout.

Banham, from Lakeville, entered the game 10 points away from Lindsay Whalen's 2,285 career mark. She eclipsed the Lynx star's record by two with a basket early in the third quarter against the Tigers and finished with 29 points.

Auburn won the game 81-79 in overtime. Banham made one of two free throws in the last seconds. The score was tied at 71-all at the end of regulation.

The Gophers trailed 42-33 at halftime. The big bright spot for the Gophers in the first two quarters was the play of 6-3 junior Karley Barnes. In her first start of the season, she had 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting. Banham had nine points.

The Tigers increased their lead to 13 points, 60-47, at the end of three quarters.

But the Gophers (4-1) outscored Auburn 17-7 in the first 5:16 of the final quarter to cut the Tigers' lead to 67-64. And Minnesota got within 69-68 but the Tigers went up by three again with 1:06 to play.

A three-point play by Barnes on a basket and free throw tied the score at 71-all.

Auburn (5-1) had the ball with 14 seconds left but could not score again in the fourth.

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