Jasmine Powell decided it was time to think less, play more.
Powell is the Gophers women's basketball team's point guard. And, as the season has progressed, she said she'd fallen into the habit of trying to force things rather than let the game come to her.
In recent games, she's tried to change that.
Sunday at Williams Arena, Powell let it flow. The result: A season-high 23 points, making four of seven three-pointers and eight assists to only one turnover in an 81-52 victory over Texas-San Antonio.
Oh, and she led the team with six rebounds.
"Coach always talks about getting feet into the paint," said Powell, who has averaged 17.7 points and made seven of 11 three-pointers in her past three games. "There was that opportunity [Sunday], me getting in the paint, creating opportunities for others."
Actually, in a game against a team determined to use its quickness to close out on shooters and to harass forward Kadi Sissoko, Gophers coach Lindsay Whalen decided to have Powell and Alexia Smith — usually Powell's backup — together more after the Gophers fell behind 7-0.
"We needed to get downhill," Whalen said. "We were a little passive. And these two are two of our best drive-and-kickers, two of our best finishers in the paint. And defensively, when they're together, they can be really dynamic."
