Minnesota Golden Gophers at Illinois Fighting Illini
· NCAA Women's Basketball
No. 22 Minnesota women beat Illinois 78-73, clinch No. 4 seed, double-bye in Big Ten tourney
Minnesota (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten), which lost 75-61 to No. 18 Michigan State last time out, has won 10 of 11 and will be the No. 4 seed in Big Ten Tournament, which begins Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Gophers tied the program's single-season record for conference wins, previously set in the 1982-83 and '84-85 seasons.
Berry Wallace hit a 3-pointer before Cearah Parchment drew a charge and then scored in the post to make it 70-all with 1:01 left in the game, but Grace Grocholski, Mara Braun and Tori McKinney combined to go 8 of 8 from the free-throw line from there to seal it.
Braun had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists, Finau Tonga also scored 11 points and McKinney added 10.
Wallace led Illinois (19-10, 9-9) with 15 points while Maddie Webber and Aaliyah Guyton each scored 14. Parchment and Destiny Jackson added 13 points apiece.
Hart scored six points in a 14-3 first-quarter run that made it 16-9 with 3:24 left in the period and Minnesota never again trailed.
The Gophers used a 11-3 spurt in the second quarter to push the lead to 15 points before Illinois scored eight consecutive points to close the first half that made it 36-29 at the intermission.
Illinois: The 10th-seeded Illini play Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
How can I watch Golden Gophers vs. Fighting Illini?
- TV Channel: Golden Gophers vs Fighting Illini 2021 College Basketball, week 17, is broadcasted on BTN.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Recent Plays
| 4th 0:00 |  |
End of Game | 78 - 73 |
| 4th 0:00 | |
End of 4th Quarter | 78 - 73 |
| 4th 0:03 |  |
Aaliyah Guyton makes 27-foot three point jumper | 78 - 73 |
| 4th 0:08 |  |
Tori McKinney makes free throw 2 of 2 | 78 - 70 |
| 4th 0:08 | |
Tori McKinney makes free throw 1 of 2 | 77 - 70 |
Statistics
 MINN |
ILL |
|
|---|---|---|
| 27-57 | FG | 26-59 |
| 47 | Field Goal % | 44 |
| 4-10 | 3PT | 10-19 |
| 40 | Three Point % | 53 |
| 20-24 | FT | 11-14 |
| 83 | Free Throw % | 79 |
| 39 | Rebounds | 25 |
| 12 | Offensive Rebounds | 6 |
| 27 | Defensive Rebounds | 19 |
| 17 | Assists | 16 |
| 7 | Steals | 8 |
| 1 | Blocks | 1 |
| 15 | Turnovers | 13 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 15 | Total Turnovers | 13 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 12 | Points Off Turnovers | 15 |
| 6 | Fast Break Points | 6 |
| 46 | Points in Paint | 26 |
| 17 | Fouls | 19 |
| 15 | Largest Lead | 4 |
| 1 | Lead Change | 1 |
| 91 | Percent Led | 4 |
Game Information
Location: Champaign, IL
Attendance: 5,785 | Capacity:
2025-26 Big Ten Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 18-0 | - | 28-1 |
| Iowa | 15-3 | 3 | 24-5 |
| Michigan | 15-3 | 3 | 24-5 |
| Ohio State | 13-5 | 5 | 24-6 |
| Minnesota | 13-5 | 5 | 22-7 |
| Maryland | 11-7 | 7 | 23-7 |
| Michigan State | 11-7 | 7 | 22-7 |
| Washington | 10-8 | 8 | 20-9 |
| Illinois | 9-9 | 9 | 19-10 |
| USC | 9-9 | 9 | 17-12 |
| Oregon | 8-10 | 10 | 20-11 |
| Nebraska | 7-11 | 11 | 18-11 |
| Indiana | 6-12 | 12 | 17-13 |
| Purdue | 5-13 | 13 | 13-16 |
| Wisconsin | 5-13 | 13 | 13-16 |
| Penn State | 4-14 | 14 | 11-18 |
| Northwestern | 2-16 | 16 | 8-21 |
| Rutgers | 1-17 | 17 | 9-20 |