Purdue’s Braden Smith hyperextended his left knee but was able to return to Friday’s Big Ten tournament quarterfinal against Michigan State at Target Center.
Caitlin Clark hit the big three-pointer down the stretch, but several teammates also had strong games and made clutch plays in Iowa’s overtime victory over Nebraska.
No. 5 seed Nebraska will have a chance for its first title since 2014 after knocking off eighth-seeded Maryland 78-68. Jaz Shelley led the way for the Huskers with 30 points, along with nine assists, while playing all 40 minutes.
The Wolverines own the conference’s top defense, surrendering just 63 points per outing, while Iowa scored 95 points and drained 15 threes in the quarterfinals.
Supporters and admirers of record-shattering Caitlin Clark and her Iowa teammates have been streaming into Minneapolis for the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament, well ahead of the Hawkeyes’ debut on Friday.
Nia Holloway scrapped, clawed and fought in the post, boxing out high-scoring Rutgers star Destiny Adams and slowing her down enough in the fourth quarter for the Gophers to pull away.
Minnesota outshot Boston in all three periods and had three more power plays but wasn’t able to score in the team’s fourth straight game without Taylor Heise.
From pros who once idolized Jessie Diggins skiing alongside her to thousands of children clamoring for autographs, Theodore Wirth Park made many dreams come true.