Sara Scalia fuels Gophers' first-round comeback victory in WNIT

The junior guard scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and 33 overall as the Gophers advanced to face South Dakota State.

March 18, 2022 at 4:27AM
Gophers guard Sara Scalia puts up a shot over UW-Green Bay on Thursday night in the WNIT. Scalia scored 17 of her 33 points in the fourth quarter. (University of Minnesota photo/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Gophers women's basketball team outscored Wisconsin-Green Bay 27-13 in the fourth quarter to overcome a six-point deficit and defeat the host Phoenix 73-65 on Thursday night in a first-round game of the Women's National Invitation Tournament at Green Bay, Wis.

Gophers guard Sara Scalia played all 40 minutes and finished with a game-high 33 points, plus seven rebounds and five assists. The junior from Stillwater scored 17 in the fourth quarter, going 6-for-9 from the field and 3-for-6 on three-point attempts.

Kadi Sissoko added 18 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, which shot 50% in the fourth quarter and forced Green Bay into four turnovers over the final 10 minutes.

Scalia gave Minnesota the lead for good at 64-62 on a three-pointer with 2:31 remaining, and Gadiva Hubbard, who finished with 12 points, sank a three with 1:55 left for a 67-62 lead.

The Gophers (15-17) will take on South Dakota State (24-9) at 2 p.m. Sunday in a second-round game.

Sydney Levy led Wisconsin-Green Bay (20-8) with 20 points.

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