Gophers women pour it on from the start, then clamp down to smother Wisconsin 59-50

MADISON, WIS. – In 10 minutes of first-quarter action Tuesday at Kohl Center, the visiting Gophers women’s basketball team landed the first punch. Then a combination. Followed by a flurry.

An avalanche.

Probably the best quarter of play in coach Dawn Plitzuweit’s year-plus as head coach.

And the Wisconsin Badgers never quite dug out.

The Gophers (14-1 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) ended 2024 by beating the Badgers 59-50. It was their first win vs. Wisconsin in two years, breaking an 0-4 streak. Minnesota won its second consecutive conference game, their first on the road. The strong start that led to a 90-54 rout of Penn State last week at Williams Arena traveled with the team on the bus to Madison.

“It feels great,” junior point guard Amaya Battle said. She scored 13 points, had six rebounds and her first-ever win over the Badgers. Sophomore guard Grace Grocholski (12) and senior center Sophie Hart (11) joined her scoring in double figures. “I mean, any win is a great win. But this one feels especially good. Really good.”

As Plitzuweit was quick to point out, there is a lot to work on. After shoving the Badgers (10-4, 1-2) onto their heels to start, the Gophers offense struggled the rest of the way.

Minnesota opened the game 10-0. They ended the first quarter up 23-4 not having allowed the Badgers to make a field goal. They led by as many as 23 early in the second quarter.

And while the shots stopped falling after that, the defense never wavered.

“We played with intensity throughout,” Plitzuweit said. “Our defense, our composure was really solid. This is a road win in a border battle game. There is a lot to learn and grow from. But also one we can say, ‘OK, that’s a good win for us.‘”

It was something of a family celebration for members of the Gophers with Wisconsin roots. Plitzuweit, Grocholski and freshman guard McKenna Johnson all grew up just over an hour’s drive from Madison, and there were scores of friends and family at the game.

Here’s what they saw: A 23-4 first quarter in which the Gophers shot 53% and made four of eight three-pointers, while holding the Badgers to 0-for-12 shooting.

But here’s what they also saw: A Gophers offense that gradually shut down, scoring only 33 points in the final 30 minutes, shooting 33.3% in the process.

So it’s a good thing the defense was strong throughout. After the game, Wisconsin coach Marisa Moseley talked about how much the Gophers defense has improved in Plitzuweit’s second season.

“They added length with Tori McKinney,” Moseley said of the Gophers freshman guard, who has started in place of the injured Mara Braun. On the day she was named national freshman of the week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, McKinney scored seven points with six assists, zero turnovers and two steals while playing tenacious on-ball defense.

“She makes their perimeter defense better than in the past,” Moseley said. “Also they have really turned up the heat with their physicality. They box out hard, rebound. Definitely a difference.”

In two victories over the Gophers last year, Badgers all-conference forward Serah Williams scored 54 points and had 30 rebounds. She had her customary double-double Tuesday (16 points, 11 boards), but had only four points at the half and eight after three quarters. The Gophers outrebounded the Badgers 37-32 and limited the post-heavy Badgers to only four offensive rebounds.

“One of our keys is just trying to stay on them on defense, every play,” Grocholski said. “And then take what comes to us on offense.”

The Gophers did miss a lot of open shots and could be more efficient around the rim. But, as Battle said, it happens.

“You’re not going to make every shot,” she said. “But Dawn has talked about how we have to have a certain toughness to play on the road in the Big Ten.”

And they had it, which is why Battle and the rest of the Gophers finally beat Wisconsin.