Continued: U's Fox shows Bison the total package

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GOPHERS WOMEN 68, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 56

Up next: Subway Classic • 1 p.m. Saturday vs. American • Williams Arena • No TV (830-AM)

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Anyone who has seen Emily Fox stack cups in a sport stacking race knows how fast her fingers can fly. North Dakota State got an up-close look in a different venue Wednesday, when the Gophers guard performed her sleight of hand in a 68-56 victory at Williams Arena.

Fox stole the ball six times in the first half, tying her career best for most steals in a game, and added 15 points as the Gophers won their home opener before an announced crowd of 4,828. The only hotter hands belonged to Katie Ohm, who scored 17 points to tie her career high.

Fox moved into 12th place on the Gophers' career scoring chart with 1,077 points for her career and passed Kelly Roysland, who watched from the opponents' bench in her new role as a Bison assistant coach.

The freshman trio of Jackie Voigt, Kiara Buford and Brianna Mastey recorded another strong outing as the Gophers won their second consecutive game. The three made seven of nine shots in the first half and combined to score 18 points overall.

"We've put an emphasis on getting up into the passing lanes, and we finally did it this game," said Fox, who also had a game-high six assists. "I try to have a nose for the basketball. We had a great first half, with a lot of energy and intensity."

Ohm, who has 49 points and nine three-pointers in three games, made two long-range shots in the first half. The Gophers had no scoring touch inside, but they hit six of 12 three-point shots on their way to a 41-25 halftime lead.

Fox fueled an 11-0 run with four steals, twice delivering the ball to Voigt for points and taking one to the basket herself for a layup. Buford followed up with a pair of three-pointers for a 26-11 lead.

The Gophers' quick, energetic defense forced 14 turnovers in the first half and held the Bison without a field goal for a 10-minute stretch. The Bison pulled within 28-20 late in the half, but two more Fox steals sparked a 13-5 Gophers run to close the half.

"That was some of the best basketball in the first half we've played for a couple of years," Gophers coach Pam Borton said. "We played extremely well, and that had a lot to do with our defense. I'm very, very pleased with the energy and focus we showed."

She was less happy with the second half, when the Gophers took some poor shots and lost discipline. North Dakota State crept as close as 10 points with 8 minutes, 48 seconds remaining, but Ohm scored seven consecutive points as the Gophers outscored the Bison 10-4 to again stretch the lead.

The Gophers made only nine of 30 shots in the second half and hit only 15 of 39 chances inside. Centers Ashley Ellis-Milan and Zoe Harper combined to make four of 17 field-goal attempts.

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