Women’s basketball: Gophers push Illinois before falling, 69-62

Minnesota performed its finest recreation in weeks, utilizing a 15-5 run to tie the sport with 1 minute, 51 seconds remaining, however Marika Cook dinner answered by scoring eight factors in a 9-0 run as Illinois pulled away for a 69-62 victory Sunday in Champaign, Ailing.

Cook dinner had team-highs of 21 factors and 5 assists, and Adalia McKenzie added 20 factors and 9 rebounds as Illinois improved to 18-6 total, 8-5 within the Large Ten Convention.

Rose Micheaux had game-highs of 24 factors and 11 rebounds for the Gophers (9-14, 2-10), who trailed 55-45 with 9:03 remaining earlier than clawing their manner again in with a collection of factors from the paint.

Micheaux scored six factors on layups, and Mallory Heyer added a layup on a backdoor reduce as Minnesota reduce its deficit to 55-53 earlier than Destinee Oberg, giving Micheaux a breather, was fouled inside and made 1 of two free throws to make it 55-54 with 4:06 left.

McKenzie answered with consecutive driving layups, together with a three-point play, however Micheaux answered with a turnaround jumper within the paint, and Isabelle Gradwell tied the rating, 60-60, with a brief jumper off an inbounds play.

That, nevertheless, was nearly it for Minnesota, which didn’t rating once more till Mara Braun hit two free throws with 5 seconds left earlier than Illinois let the clock expire on the third victory in 5 video games.

Braun completed with 11 factors, the one different Gophers participant in double figures. Micheaux notched her ninth double-double this season.

The Gophers have misplaced 4 video games in a row and 9 of 10 total since a 59-48 victory over Illinois State on Dec. 22 of their final nonconference recreation. They’ve six regular-season video games remaining, beginning Wednesday at No. 10 Ohio State. Tip is ready for six p.m. CST.