Gophers rally for win after first-half foibles

Kay Sylva was asked to step in because Emily Fox wasn't playing. She stepped up, too, scoring 14 points.

By RACHEL BLOUNT, Star Tribune

Last update: November 10, 2008 - 4:59 AM

Kay Sylva got the news a day before Sunday's exhibition game against Minnesota State Moorhead. Emily Fox, the Gophers' leading scorer and senior co-captain, would not play because of foot pain -- meaning Sylva would get the first start of her Gophers career.

The senior guard responded with a team-high 14 points as the Gophers overcame a ragged first half to win 75-49 at Williams Arena. She got fine support from the freshmen, too, in the Gophers' final tuneup before Friday's regular-season opener at Stanford. The trio of Jackie Voigt, Brianna Mastey and Kiara Buford combined for 35 points, 21 rebounds, six steals and three blocked shots as the Gophers finished their exhibition schedule 2-0.

Gophers coach Pam Borton said Fox has been experiencing overuse-related pain in her foot. Fox participated in a Sunday morning shootaround and felt good, but Borton thought it wise to rest her, considering that the Gophers begin the season with five games over 10 days. Borton expects the guard to be ready for Friday's opener.

"I was a little nervous when they called out my name,'' said Sylva, who scored a total of 31 points in 31 games off the bench last season. "We showed we can play as a team, even though Emmy wasn't on the court. Other players stepped up.''

It took the Gophers a while to pull themselves together. Cold shooting and spotty defense thwarted them in the first half, when they went more than 4 1/2 minutes without a field goal as the Dragons took an 18-10 lead.

Sylva followed a three-pointer with a nice move to the basket for another score, then passed to Voigt for a three-pointer that tied it at 18. The Dragons managed only two points over the final 4:06 as the Gophers took a 37-29 halftime lead that grew throughout the second half.

Borton was pleased at the improvements the Gophers made in the week since their exhibition victory over Concordia (St. Paul). They reduced their turnovers, tightened their defense in the second half, outrebounded the Dragons 52-24 and made 25 of 30 free throws.

"I thought we looked a lot better than we did a week ago,'' she said. "I give Kay a lot of credit for stepping up, and I thought our kids did a good job with Emmy not out there and the freshmen getting a lot of time. I liked what I saw.''

Voigt topped the Gophers with 13 rebounds and added 13 points in a team-high 29 minutes. She and Buford combined to make 14 of 16 free throws, while Brianna Mastey finished with 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting.

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