Minesota Loses to DePaul 79-72

Minnesota lost to DePaul 79-72. The Gophers were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. Minnesota led by as many as 15 points before letting DePaul storm back. Amanda Zahui B led all Gophers with 21 points. Zahui finished one rebound shy of the NCAA record of 23. While she is unlikely to win the Naismith award,

Try as they might, Minnesota simply could not get out of their own way. The Gophers committed more turnovers than they had made field goals. 28 turnovers is never acceptable, but in the range of unacceptability, an NCAA Tournament game has to be the least acceptable. Many of the turnovers were unforced. Passes were thrown five feet over players' heads.

Guards repeatedly dribbled into obvious traps. Once or twice would have been "reasonable" but the consistency by which Minnesota's guards put themselves in poor position was astounding. By the end, some of the turnovers were fatigue based. The Gophers did not have enough depth to hold on, especially once Carlie Wagner had to leave the game with foul trouble.

Shae Kelley finished her last game with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals. Unfortunately, she also had 7 turnovers. Zahui B also had seven turnovers.

Carlie Wagner had 14 points and 8 rebounds in her first of hopefully many NCAA Tournament games.