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University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
3-0,0-0Big Ten
Southern
0-3,0-0SWAC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern U. | 6 | 18 | 18 | 5 | 47 |
| Minnesota | 16 | 24 | 20 | 26 | 86 |
11/10/2026 9:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Golden Gophers had four players score in double figures led by Mara Braun's 19 points. Gracie Merkle scored 12 points while Grace Grocholski and Natalie Kussow scored 11 apiece.
MINNEAPOLIS - Led by Mara Braun's 19 points, the No. 18/17 University of Minnesota women's basketball team (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) defeated the Southern University Jaguars (0-3, 0-0 SWAC) 86-47 on Tuesday evening in front of 3,646 fans at The Barn by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
The Gophers had four players score in double figures, led by Braun, who had 19 points and four steals. Gracie Merkle added 12 points and two steals from the bench and Grace Grocholski helped out with 11 points and six rebounds while freshman Natalie Kussow contributed 11 points, four assists, and two steals.
Minnesota out-rebounded Southern 42-24 in Tuesday's game, led by Tayla Thomas' seven boards. The Gophers also pulled down 19 offensive rebounds and scored 22 second chance points.
The Minnesota defense held Southern shooters to just 31.9 percent from the field, including 21.4 percent from three-point range.
How It Happened
After falling behind 2-0, Minnesota went on an 8-0 run with 8:26 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Braun, to take an 8-2 lead. The Gophers then added four points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with a 16-6 advantage. Minnesota did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 16 points close to the basket.
The Maroon and Gold built that first quarter lead to 31-19 before going on a 6-0 run starting at the 2:31 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Braun, to increase its lead to 37-19. The Jaguars cut into that lead, but the Gophers still enjoyed a 40-24 advantage heading into halftime. Minnesota dominated in the paint, scoring 16 of its 24 points close to the basket.
The Gophers wasted no time building on its lead, going on a 6-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Thomas, to expand its lead further to 46-24 with 7:35 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Jaguars had cut into that lead somewhat, but Minnesota still entered the fourth quarter with a 60-42 edge.
Minnesota started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on a 17-0 run, finished off by Zoey Bershers' three, to grow the lead to 77-42 with 6:36 to go in the contest. The Gophers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 86-47 win.
Game Notes
» The Gophers held the Jaguars to only 31.9 percent shooting from the field.
» The Maroon and Gold never trailed after taking a 16-6 first quarter lead.
» Minnesota tallied 20 total assists in the game.
» The Minnesota bench came alive by scoring 32 points to its scoring output.
» Minnesota had a 42-24 edge on the boards in the win.
» Minnesota cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 19 offensive boards in the game.
» Mara Braun led the Golden Gophers with a game-high 19 points.
» Minnesota got a team-high seven rebounds from Tayla Thomas.
