The Library Media — Sports · Sports Desk
Minnesota Rallies Past Kansas State, 68-65, to Remain Unbeaten
By Megan McCarthy
Photo: John Mac / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Minnesota erased an eight-point third-quarter deficit and held off Kansas State 68-65 in the MarketBeat Invitational at the Sanford Pentagon, improving to 4-0 and handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season.
The No. 18 Golden Gophers trailed 41-33 in the third quarter after taking a narrow 29-27 lead into halftime. But Minnesota responded with a stronger interior performance, overcoming a cold-shooting start to keep its unbeaten record intact.
Freshman Natalie Kussow led Minnesota with 15 points, scoring 10 in the second half. She also contributed five rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals. Gracie Merkle added 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Grace Grocholski finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Mara Braun chipped in 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Four Golden Gophers reached double figures in the comeback.
Minnesota’s advantage inside proved central to the result. The Gophers outscored Kansas State 44-26 in points in the paint and won the rebounding battle 38-30. That interior production helped Minnesota work back from the Wildcats’ third-quarter surge and finish with a three-point victory.
Kansas State had the game’s leading scorer in Nastja Claessens, who finished with 20 points and three 3-pointers. Taryn Sides recorded 13 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Gina Garcia contributed 12 points and seven assists. Tzoana Tampakou added 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Wildcats entered the matchup unbeaten at 4-0 but left Sioux Falls with a 4-1 record. Minnesota, meanwhile, moved to 4-0 after completing the comeback in the neutral-site meeting.
The final margin was just three points, but Minnesota’s work in the paint and on the boards supplied the difference as the Golden Gophers turned an eight-point deficit into a 68-65 win.
Megan McCarthy
Women’s College Basketball, The Library Media
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