Dawn Plitzuweit blames Gophers' 70-65 loss to Michigan on short prep after travel
Gophers women react after 70-65 loss to Michigan
Dawn Plitzuweit, Annika Stewart and Amaya Battle speak with reporters after the Gophers' women's basketball team lost to Michigan 70-65 Wednesday night at Williams Arena to fall to 17-3 on the season and 5-3 in Big Ten play. All three of Minnesota's losses are to ranked opponents.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team hosted Michigan Wednesday night as a pair of ranked teams met at Williams Arena for the first time since 2019.
A pair of Minnesota-born players put on a show. Amaya Battle had a career night for the Gophers, but Olivia Olson and Michigan left with the victory. The former Benilde-St. Margaret’s star led the Wolverines with 19 points and eight rebounds. She had nearly 500 friends and family at the game.
Battle had a game-high 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, and added four rebounds.
The Gophers fall to 17-3 on the season, and 5-3 in Big Ten play.
Gophers’ coach Dawn Plitzuweit said Wednesday night’s loss was largely due to having to travel back from a win at Northwestern on Sunday, and only having one day to prepare for a ranked Wolverines’ team. Minnesota trailed Northwestern by 16 in the fourth quarter before rallying for an 87-82 win.
"We’re entering the toughest stretch of our schedule. We were put in a tough spot with getting back, we really only had one day to prep for a ranked team. It puts you in a really tough spot," Plitzuweit said. "Our message was I thought we competed at a very high level. Michigan was just a little bit better and hit a couple more shots."
Three-point line the difference
By the numbers: Michigan shot 11-of-24 from the perimeter, led by Syla Swords, who went 6-of-11. The Gophers went just 6-of-25. Outside of Annika Stewart going 3-of-7, the rest of the team went a combined 3-of-18. Minnesota was also 13-of-19 from the free-throw line. Minnesota had a 37-33 lead at the half, but scored just 11 points in the fourth quarter.
They shot just 36 percent from the field for the game.
Gophers struggling against ranked teams
Why it matters: The Gophers are now 0-3 against ranked teams this season. They lost to a ranked Nebraska team to open Big Ten play, then lost at No. 8-ranked Maryland last week. They’re going to need more quality wins this season to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.