The Golden Gophers women’s basketball team is set to conclude its three-game homestand on Wednesday night as they face the formidable No. 3 UCLA. Following this matchup, Minnesota will embark on a trip to play against Washington and Oregon.
The Gophers recently improved their Big Ten record to 3-2 with a thrilling 63-62 victory over the No. 21 USC Trojans on Sunday. This win is particularly significant as it marks Minnesota’s first triumph against an Associated Press Top 25 opponent since they defeated No. 19 Arizona State, 80-66, at Williams Arena in November 2019.
Leading the charge for the Gophers in their latest game was Grace Grocholski, who put up an impressive 25 points, eight rebounds, and a season-high three steals against USC. Grocholski matched her personal best with 20 field-goal attempts, hitting 50% of her shots from the field and sinking five of ten attempts from beyond the arc.
In addition to Grocholski’s standout performance, Sophie Hart and Mara Braun also played essential roles in securing the win. Hart contributed 15 points along with six rebounds and two steals. Meanwhile, Braun recorded career highs with 10 rebounds and 10 defensive rebounds, supporting the team with six points, two assists, two blocks, and one steal.
With this success, future Hall of Famers Brylee Glenn and Grace Grocholski have joined the ranks of Minnesota players reaching 1,000 career points this season. Glenn is close behind with 910 career points, marking a positive outlook for the team as they push forward in the season.
This competitive spirit and recent accomplishments bode well for the Gophers as they look to challenge UCLA and beyond, fostering excitement among fans and instilling hope for further successes throughout the season.