Gophers women lose Mara Braun, then game to Illinois

Seconds into the fourth quarter Sunday at Illinois, Mara Braun elevated and let a three-point shot go.

It was nothing but net, and the Gophers led by seven points.

But an Illini defender didn’t give Braun room to land. Braun came down and rolled her foot. Shortly thereafter, she left the game. Not long after that, the Gophers’ lead was gone for good.

Minnesota lost 73-68. The Gophers (14-6, 4-5 Big Ten) have now lost consecutive games to second-division Big Ten teams, Wisconsin and Illinois, both on the road.

“We worked hard and competed,” Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit said. “But the bottom line was, they were able to get to the rim any way they wanted to in the second half.”

Did Braun’s absence mean a seismic shift in a game the Gophers led by as many as 11 points as late as the final three minutes of the third quarter?

No question.

Illinois (9-10, 3-6) outscored Minnesota 19-5 over the next seven-plus minutes to go up seven on Genesis Bryant’s hoop with 2:11 left. From the moment Braun hit her final shot, the Gophers were outscored 23-11.

After struggling with her shot in recent games, Braun was efficient Sunday. She scored 18 points in 32 minutes, hitting six of 12 field-goal attempts overall and four of eight three-point tries. She also had five rebounds, four assists and no turnovers.

The Gophers shot 44.4% before Braun was hurt, and 28.6% (4-for-14) afterward. So losing their best player had a huge effect on the Gophers, and her potential absence Wednesday night will be a big question as the Gophers prepare to host a red-hot Penn State team that has won five straight and scored 112 points in a victory over Maryland on Sunday.

But, as Plitzuweit said, the Gophers were having problems offensively before the injury.

Illinois scored 28 points in the first half and fell behind by 11, but the Illini shot 15-for-28 overall and 4-for-8 on threes while scoring 45 second-half points.

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BOXSCORE: Illinois 73, Gophers 68

Makira Cook (22 points) and Bryant (19) were able to get into the paint and then either score, dump it off, pass it out for an open shot or get to the free-throw line. Cook, Bryant and post Camille Hobby (19) scored 42 of Illinois’ 45 second-half points, combining to hit 15 of 25 field-goal tries in the final two quarters.

The Illini did not get to the free-throw line in the first half but went 11-for-13 from the line in the second.

“Bryant and Cook, we struggled to contain them,” Plitzuweit said. “We couldn’t keep ‘em away from the rim.”

Amaya Battle had 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, but she did not score in the final quarter. Mallory Heyer (11 points) and Sophie Hart (10 points) were also in double figures in scoring.

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With the Gophers down seven late, Heyer hit a three-pointer. More than a minute later, after consecutive stops, Janay Sanders drove, scored and made the free throw with 35 seconds left to make it a one-point game.

But with 19 seconds left and Hart on the bench, Hobby scored on a layup. Out of a timeout, Sanders drove the lane but missed, ending the Gophers comeback.

Plitzuweit didn’t have a definitive update on Braun’s status going forward. She was to be re-evaluated after the team’s return to Minneapolis.

“They were able to get to the rim and create with dribble penetration scenarios,” Plitzuweit said. “It got tougher for us as the game went on.”

The Star Tribune did not send the writer of this article to the game. This was written using a broadcast, interviews and other material.