Gophers women’s basketball improves to 7-0, dominate Montana in second game without injured Mara Braun

Tori McKinney found out she would make her first college start for the Gophers women’s basketball team just hours before it played Eastern Illinois last week. It happened on the day of the game, after leading scorer Mara Braun re-injured her foot at a morning shootaround.

Fast forward a few days and it’s clear the freshman from Minnetonka is playing with a maturity beyond her years.

Sunday, the Gophers swamped Montana 84-45 at Williams Arena, scoring 52 first-half points, playing one of their best defensive games of the season and one of their most collaborative on the offensive end.

They had a season high in rebounds (55) and assists (24), had all five starters score in double figures, had season-best games from Amaya Battle (14 points, eight assists, five rebounds, two steals), center Sophie Hart (16 points in 17 minutes), Mallory Heyer (10 points and nine rebounds).

And McKinney? The freshman scored 13 points on 4-for-8 shooting, shot 3-for-5 on three-pointers, had three assists, a block and a steal. McKinney used her length and quickness on defense, her first step on offense, her rather impressive maturity to handle a situation that might overwhelm some.

“Being thrown in the starting lineup was a little nerve-wracking at the start,” McKinney said. “But regardless if I’m starting or coming off the bench, I know my role wasn’t really going to change. It’s honestly just play as hard as you can and do what the team needs. That’s my mindset.”

Here are the results: In two starts she has scored 27 points on 7-for-13 shooting, made four of eight threes, had two blocks and a steal.

It is one of the most encouraging things the Gophers (7-0) can take away from their fifth victory by 29 or more points.

But not the only ones. Against a Grizzlies team that had breezed to victory over Washington, the Gophers played perhaps their best defensive game yet. Montana (3-3) shot 25.5% overall, made seven of 31 threes, were outscored 38-14 in the paint, 19-1 on second-chance points and 19-5 on points off turnovers. The balanced offensive attack — all five starters between 10 and 16 points — was another plus. And if the Gophers appeared to ease off the gas in the second half — they scored 32 points in the second half — the Gophers remained perfect heading into a tournament in New Orleans on Friday.

“We started the game at a very, very high level on both ends of the court,” coach Dawn Plitzuweit said. The Gophers had a 29-7 first half and a 23-15 second; the Grizzlies didn’t reach double figures until nearly 4 minutes into the second quarter.

“Our defensive pressure really got us going,” Plitzuweit said.

For a team looking for ways to move forward, at least for the foreseeable future, without Braun, McKinney’s play has been encouraging. The 6-1 guard missed her final year at Minnetonka because of a leg injury, but recovered in time to become a two-time AAU Defensive Olayer of the Year with North Tartan. Battle, who has been starting since her freshman year, knows how hard that is.

I just told her today, ‘You’re my favorite player,’ " Battle said of McKinney. “Because she’s just a dog on the court. She has this intensity. She’s super-fast. She’s different.”

McKinney’s defense hasn’t been a surprise. She’s good on the ball and off. But it’s her ability not to get rushed on offense that has impressed Plitzuweit. Through seven games McKinney has shot 47% overall and 40% from three.

“Very poised, very confident,” Plitzuweit said.

Two of her three assists Sunday were to Hart.

“She’s super confident on the floor,” Hart said. “She has a quick little step we’re all super impressed by.”