Deja Winters and Sara Scalia combined for 53 of the Gophers 78 points, but it was not enough in a 88-78 loss to No. 25 Iowa.

20 days since the Gophers suffered a 56-point loss at home to Iowa, they had a chance to get revenge on the Hawkeyes this time on the road.

After trying different starting lineups since the departure of Jasmine Powell, it seems as if the Gophers have settled on a unit, as they opted to deploy the same starting five as Sunday’s win over Michigan State.

After quickly falling down 10-2 to start the game, the Gophers replaced Alanna Micheaux and Laura Bagwell-Katalinich with Kadi Sissoko and Bailey Helgren in hopes of turning things around.

The move paid off for Minnesota, Helgren and Sissoko’s six combined rebounds settled things down and narrowed Iowa’s lead to 27-21 after 10 minutes of play.

Veteran guard Sara Scalia turned it on in quarter number two, recording a team-high 10 points. Right when it looked like Iowa would break the game open, the Gophers responded and carried a 42-37 deficit into halftime.

It looked like it was setting up to be a battle between two of the best guards in the Big Ten, as Iowa’s top scorer Caitlin Clark had a game-high 13 points at the break.

Deja Winters came out of the locker room with something to prove for the Gophers. After a scorching hot 13 points in the third quarter, she had played Minnesota right back into the game trailing 62-61.

Minnesota and Winter’s luck ran out there. Despite 12 more points from the graduate student guard, the Gophers were outscored 26-17 in the final 10 minutes thanks to eight of 12 shooting from Iowa.

All-American Iowa guard Caitlin Clark led the Hawkeyes with 32 points, en route to a 88-78 victory and a season sweep over the Gophers.

Points in the paint continued to be an issue for the Gophers. A 42-22 difference in Iowa’s favor is way too much for any team to overcome.

Minnesota will have a quick turnaround, taking on Northwestern in only two days on Feb. 11 at Williams Arena, in a game that was rescheduled due to a postponement earlier in the season.

After struggling in the paint for much of the season, the Gophers out-scored Michigan State 30-20 in paint points and out-rebounded it 39-36 resulting in a 71-60 victory.

After coming up short against Michigan State 74-71 only 14 days ago on the road, the Golden Gophers had a chance for revenge Sunday, but this time on their home floor.

Minnesota continues to fiddle with its starting lineup, this time giving graduate student Laura Bagwell-Katalinich her first start of the season, alongside Sara Scalia, Deja Winters, Gadiva Hubbard and Alanna Micheaux.

Scalia started the game on fire for the Gophers, but she didn’t have much help. The junior guard scored 11 of the team’s 14 points in the first quarter and Michigan State led 17-14 after 10 minutes.

The second quarter was a game of runs. Minnesota jumped out to a 31-24 lead, but the Spartans responded with an 8-5 run to close the first half and the Gophers led 36-32.

Sophomore guard Alexia Smith recorded a game-high 10 points in the second quarter, and the Gophers’ 10-2 difference in fastbreak points were the difference in the first half.

The Gophers played continued to play some great offensive basketball into the third quarter. Freshman post player Alanna Micheaux led the way with seven points, while Gadiva Hubard added five more.

A 14-6 difference in points scored in the paint helped the Gophers extend their lead to 59-50 heading into the final quarter of play.

Minnesota struggled in the fourth quarter, shooting three of 13 from the field as a team. Sometimes you just need to be better than the other team, and the Gophers were out-scoring the Spartans 12-10 in the final quarter.

Sara Scalia led the way with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Gophers, while Alexia Smith (13) and Deja Winters (10) were the only other two players to score in double figures.

Six points and seven rebounds off the bench from veteran post player Bailey Helgren and four points and five rebounds from Bagwell-Katalinich went a long way in earning the victory. Their presence down low for 21 minutes was instrumental in the Gophers finding success in the paint, which ultimately led to a 71-60 win

Next for Minnesota will be another rematch against No. 21 Iowa on Wednesday, Feb. 9 in Iowa City, Iowa.

In a game where points were hard to come by, the Golden Gophers found themselves on the right side, topping Wisconsin 57-55.

Amidst a four-game losing streak, and their starting point guard entering the transfer portal, the Gophers had an opportunity to forget all of that Sunday and earn a win against (5-14) rival Wisconsin.

Graduate student guard Gophers Gadiva Hubbard made her long-awaited return to the starting lineup, joining Sara Scalia, Kadi Sissoko, Deja Winters and Alanna Micheaux as the first group on the floor.

Both teams struggled to find much offense early in the game, combining for only 24 points in the first quarter. Hubbard led Minnesota with five points, but still trailed 13-11.

The Gophers’ offense began to click in the second quarter. Six points from Sara Scalia and six more off the bench from Laura Bagwell-Katalinich resulted in a 28-25 lead heading into the break.

After struggling in the paint for much of their losing skid, Minnesota out-rebounded the Badgers 21-13 in the first half of play.

The low-scoring affair continued into the second half. In the third quarter, Scalia added another game-high six points and the Gophers were able to extend their lead by one. 44-40 with 10 minutes to play.

Starting post player Alanna Micheaux recorded her fifth foul in the fourth quarter, forcing head coach Lindsay Whalen to go with Bagwell-Katalinich down the stretch.

The Gophers struggled to score points in the final quarter of play. Shooting 3-12 from the field as a team resulted in only 13 points, but it was ultimately enough to squeak out the win 57-55.

It was not pretty, as both teams shot below 37% from the field, but a game-high 16 points from Sara Scalia was enough for Minnesota to find itself in the win column.

The Gophers 16-2 difference in bench points proved to be huge in earning their first win since Jan. 12, against Wisconsin.

Next on the schedule for Minnesota is a Feb. 3 trip to Bloomington, Indiana, taking on the Big Ten-leading and No. 6 ranked Hoosiers.57-55 to snap a four-game losing streak.

Amidst a four-game losing streak, and a 9-12 season, things got tougher for the Gophers Friday, losing lead guard Jasmine Powell to the transfer portal.

“I would like to start off by saying how grateful I am for my time in Minneapolis. Thank you to my coaches for making my dream of playing in the Big Ten a reality. Thank you to my teammates who have supported and encouraged me each and every day,” Powell said via her Twitter page.

“With that being said, after much reflection, I am entering my name into the transfer portal. Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey.”

Powell has been one of the most productive players on Minnesota this season. Her 12.4 points per game ranks second on the team, her 5.7 assists rank first and her 4.4 rebounds rank third.

Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Powell started 48 games throughout her three-year Minnesota career.

The Gophers will now look toward sophomore Alexia Smith (2.9 PPG) and graduate student Gadivia Hubbard (5.5 PPG) to have expanded roles at the guard position.

Minnesota will now shift its focus to a border-battle matchup against 5-13 Wisconsin at Williams Arena on Sunday at 2:00 p.m, as it looks to get back into the win column.

After scoring only nine points in the first quarter, Minnesota was never able to get back into the game, falling 80-66 against Purdue.

Amidst a three-game losing streak, the Golden Gophers traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana, looking to get back in the win column against the 12-7 Purdue Boilermakers Thursday.

Freshman Alanna Micheaux returned to the starting lineup for Minnesota, after Bailey Helgren took her place on Sunday against Michigan State. Michaeux was joined by the other four usual four starters; Jasmine Powell, Sara Scalia, Deja Winters and Kadi Sissoko.

The Gophers were not able to find their footing in the first quarter. After shooting four of 16 from the field as a team, they quickly found themselves in an 18-9 deficit.

They would respond in quarter number two. Two big threes from Deja Winters led to a 17-12 difference between the two teams for the quarter, but Purdue led 30-26 heading into the break.

The third quarter was much of the same issues for Minnesota. Sara Scalia led the way with seven points, but two of 9 shooting from the rest of the team was too much to overcome. Purdue extended its lead to 57-44.

With only 10 minutes remaining, the Gophers faced an uphill battle. They responded with their most efficient quarter of the game, shooting 50% from the field. Deja Winters led the way with nine points, but it was not enough.

A 35% night shooting from the field was too much to overcome for the Gophers falling 80-66 to Purdue, dropping their fourth straight game.

A poor night on shooting did not tell the whole story for Minnesota. A 15-9 deficit in turnovers and a 38-24 difference in points scored in the paint did not help the cause to break out of its slump.

Minnesota will now shift its focus to a border-battle matchup against 5-13 Wisconsin at Williams Arena on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

The Golden Gophers were in a close battle with Michigan State Sunday, but ultimately came up short, falling 74-71 to the Spartans.

After suffering a 56 point loss at home against Iowa Thursday – the program’s second-worst defeat ever, the Gophers had another tough test on the road against 9-8 Michigan State and the country’s ninth leading scorer Nia Clouden (21.3 PPG).

Graduate student Bailey Helgren slid back into the starting lineup for the Gophers Sunday, joining the other four usual starters; Jasmine Powell, Sara Scalia, Deja Winters and Kadi Sissoko.

The move by head coach Lindsay Whalen paid off for Minnesota, taking a 17-14 lead after one quarter of play. Scalia had a game-high nine points after sinking three three-point shots in the first quarter.

Scalia continued to light up the scoreboard for the Gophers in the second quarter. She sank two more threes and added 10 points to a first-half total of 19.

Deciding to give more minutes to Helgren paid off for Whalen’s team. Her eight first-half rebounds helped Minnesota lead 23-22 in the first-half rebounding total, after getting out-rebounded 50-23 against Iowa on Thursday. The Gophers led 34-30 heading into the break.

The Gophers continued to find great success leaning on Scalia in the third quarter. She added eight more, but this time she was joined by graduate student Deja Winters who also added eight points.

A 54-52 lead heading into the final quarter set up for an exciting finish between Minnesota and Michigan State.

Big-time players show up when it matters most, and that was the case for Michigan State’s Nia Clouden. Her 14 points in the fourth quarter brought her game total to 25, giving the Spartans serious momentum.

The Gophers struggled offensively down the stretch, shooting 27.8% from the field in the final 10 minutes, leading to a 74-71 loss.

Sara Scalia finished with a game-high 31 points, highlighted by seven of 13 shooting from beyond the three-point arc, but it wasn’t enough. Michigan State made big plays when it mattered most and the Gophers simply did not.

Minnesota will now look ahead to a road contest in West Lafayette, Ind. against 12-6 Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 6:00 p.m. The Boilermakers currently sit in seventh place in the Big Ten standings with a 3-4 record.

In the middle of an up-and-down 9-9 season, the Gophers had an opportunity to get a signature win against rival Iowa but struggled to find any rhythm falling 105-49.

As the Gophers are entrenched in Big Ten conference play, Wednesday night marked a great opportunity to earn a marquee victory against No. 25 Iowa and the nation’s leading scorer Caitlin Clark (25.6 PPG).

Minnesota deployed a starting lineup that has grown to be the norm. Veteran guards Jasmine Powell and Sara Scalia were joined by Deja Winters on the wing, while Kadi Sissoko and freshman Alanna Micheaux rounded out the frontcourt.

After a serious offensive struggle out of the gate for the Gophers, Iowa quickly jumped out to a 20-6 lead. Minnesota responded with a 7-0 run to close the half, led by five points from Alexia Smith off the bench.

It looked as if Minnesota was playing itself back into the game, cutting the Hawkeyes’ lead to 25-19 early in the second quarter, but Iowa responded with an 8-0 run of its own.

The Gophers would have no answer for 2021 All-America guard Caitlin Clark, as she went for 21 points, five assists and two rebounds in the first half, and Iowa led 47-34.

Iowa blew the game open in the third quarter. A 21-2 run had the Gophers looking overwhelmed, quickly falling behind 71-41.

By the time the final quarter began, Minnesota put itself in a large hole, trailing 84-46. Iowa’s Clark led the Hawkeyes’ with a remarkable triple-double performance, recording 35 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists and the Gophers fell 105-49.

It was a major mismatch for the Gophers in the post, ultimately being outscored 54-20 in points scored in the paint and getting out-rebounded 50-23 for the game.

Minnesota just ran into an offense firing on all cylinders. The Hawkeyes’ 40-68 shooting from the field and 9-18 from three-point range would be a tremendous obstacle for any team to overcome.

Life in the Big Ten rolls on for Minnesota, as it travels to East Lansing for a road matchup on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. against the 9-8 Michigan State Spartans and the nation’s ninth leading scorer Nia Clouden (21.3 PPG).

Six days after being named offensive MVP of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Gophers running back Ky Thomas entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.

“I want to thank my coaches, teammates and The University Of Minnesota. I have entered the transfer portal,” Thomas said on Twitter Monday.

After season-ending injuries to teammates Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts, Ky Thomas was thrust into a larger role at the running back position in 2021 with the Gophers.

Thomas, a Topeka, Kansas native took advantage of the opportunity. The former three-star recruit finished the season as the team’s leading rusher with 166 carries for 824 yards and six touchdowns.

Ibrahim and Potts are expected to return from injury next season, while second-leading rusher, freshman Mar’Kiese ‘Bucko’ Irving is also planning to remain with the program. Redshirt junior Bryce Williams and incoming three-star freshman Zach Evans will likely round out the team’s running back room in 2022.

Veteran wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell announced that he will be returning for a sixth season with the Gophers via Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

pic.twitter.com/9wnQ9zA2zM

— ً (@chrisautmanbell) December 10, 2021

After an injury-riddled 2021 campaign, Autman-Bell still recorded career highs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, with 35 catches for 490 yards and six touchdowns on the season.

The Gophers offense has had a significant offseason. Mike Sanford Jr. was let go as offensive coordinator, Kirk Ciarrocca is returning as his replacement, Tanner Morgan is returning for a sixth season and Mohamed Ibrahim is joining him.

Minnesota is now set to return every single skill position starter on offense, minus tight end Ko Kieft. With all five starting offensive linemen expected to leave, the Gophers will lean on their skill position players.

Autman-Bell, Morgan, Ibrahim and Ciarrocca will be tasked with regaining the offensive magic that the Gophers had in 2019.

In a back and forth affair, the Gophers struggled without their veteran point guard, falling 67-70 to Nebraska in their first Big Ten game of the season.

In their first Big Ten contest of the season, the 6-4 Golden Gophers welcomed a red-hot Nebraska team that has reeled off eight consecutive wins to start the season.

Minnesota went into Monday’s conference matchup shorthanded, as starting point guard Jasmine Powell was ruled out due to an ankle injury. Gadiva Hubbard replaced Powell in the Gophers’ starting five.

The Gophers missed Powell’s leadership early. In the first quarter they shot 5-15 from the field, committed six fouls and coughed up four turnovers as a team. The slow start resulted in a 25-14 Nebraska lead after 10 minutes.

Sara Scalia and the Gophers responded in the second quarter. The junior guard had a game-high eight points in the quarter, resulting in a 7-0 into the half. The Gophers cut Nebraska’s lead to 33-31 after 20 minutes.

The third quarter continued to be tightly contested. After Nebraska went on an 11-3 run to start the quarter, the Gophers responded with an 8-0 run to close it.

Kadi Sissoko took over the game near the end of the quarter. Her game-high 11 points in the quarter brought her game total to 21 and the Gophers within one point, trailing 50-49 with only 10 minutes remaining.

The fourth quarter saw three different lead changes and two ties as the game grew older. The Gophers missed their veteran point guard Powell, ultimately coming up short 67-70.

Nebraska found great success in the paint all game, outscoring Minnesota, 42-26 in that area, while the Gophers committed 18 turnovers compared to the Cornhuskers’ 12.

Kadi Sissoko and Sara Scalia were the only two Gophers to score in double figures, scoring 25 and 20 points respectively, the lack of a third offensive option proved to be detrimental for Minnesota.

After falling short to Nebraska, Minnesota moves to 6-5 on the season and its next game will be Sunday, Dec. 12 when it travels to Ann Arbor, Michigan to take on the Wolverines at 1:00 p.m.