Gophers women shake off early jitters, roll over Western Illinois in opener

Things started slowly Monday night at Williams Arena.

It was the season opener for the Gophers women's basketball team. Through five minutes against Western Illinois, it had gone 0-for-8 from the field and trailed 5-2.

Enough.

It is significant, after the Gophers breezed to a 75-45 victory, that it was two freshmen in their first official game with the team who decided to change the course:

Mara Braun and Amaya Battle.

"It was when we were struggling," coach Lindsay Whalen said. "I saw, specifically Mara and Amaya, have that exchange on the court. It was, 'OK, let's go.' The next possession Mara attacked the wing and got that midrange. Things got going,"

A one-sided win against an overmatched opponent isn't the place for definitive answers. But Monday Braun scored 21 points with seven rebounds. Battle had six points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

Throw in sophomore center Rose Micheaux's first career double-double (14 points, 13 rebounds) and point guard Katie Borowicz's 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting (including four threes, one of which had to be from about 28 feet) and you have a young team that played older than its age; Micheaux is the only non-freshman in that group.

"I'm not surprised at all," said Borowicz. "They show up in practice every day."

Said Micheaux: "I've been talking about people not knowing what's cooking in the kitchen. Obviously we came out with a full-course meal."

The impact of the freshman class has been immediate. With the 6-0 Braun and the 5-11 Battle, Whalen has length at that position she hasn't had before. Braun had four steals and Battle one. They combined for 15 rebounds. The top of the Gophers defense can now switch more rather than try to fight screens.

Freshman forward Mallory Heyer had eight points and eight boards. The Gophers outrebounded Western Illinois 54-37. The Leathernecks shot 25%, missing 45 shots, but got only five offensive boards.

If Braun and Battle can continue to contribute on the boards, it would free Whalen up to play both of them with Borowicz at the same time in a smaller lineup.

Offense? Whalen said after the game this might be the tightest team she has coached. Monday they shared the ball, getting 21 assists on 31 made shots.

"It was exciting," Braun said. "I mean, the exhibition game [Oct. 30] was fun, too. But this game, knowing it goes towards the record, it's for real this time? Super exciting. A little nervous at first. But once we got things rolling it was kind of smooth sailing from there."

And there is so much room for growth.

Micheaux, one of three returning players from last season, looks around and sees a nearly all-new team. "We're still learning how we work with each other," she said. "But I know Mara is going to give 100 percent. Katie's giving 100 percent. Amaya …

"Deep down we might not know how each other works. But I have confidence [everyone] is going to give their all. So, even in down times, I know we'll pull through."

Every healthy player on the roster saw action Monday. Eight players scored, seven players recorded at least one assist. After that 0-for-8 start, the Gophers shot 47 %.

"When we played well, there was good flow," Borowicz said. "When we didn't play our best, it was a little choppy, we didn't attack as much as we wanted. But we came around each and every time."