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Guards give U women an energy jolt

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Defense picked up the slack on a cold shooting night, and that was enough to keep the Bison at a distance.

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: November 25, 2009 - 5:54 AM

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GOPHERS WOMEN 65, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 37

Up next: Junkanoo Jam, vs. TCU • 10 a.m. Friday • Grand Island, Bahamas • Radio: 88.5-FM

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The Gophers women's basketball team opened Tuesday's game against North Dakota State absolutely unable to buy a basket. The Gophers missed their first eight shots, 10 of their first 11 and 18 of their first 24.

So, naturally, they never trailed.

It wasn't sharpshooting that led the Gophers (4-1) to their third consecutive victory, 65-37 over the Bison (1-3). It was defense. Full-court, pressure defense that went from the starting lineup deep into the bench. Gophers coach Pam Borton expects this season's team to be deeper and quicker than last season's. Two reasons for this are 5-8 freshman Leah Cotton and junior college transfer China Antoine, 5 feet, 3 inches of momentum-changing rocket fuel.

Cotton led the Gophers with 15 points, while Antoine kick-started a killer second-half run.

"We have to hang our hats on our defense," Gophers coach Pam Borton said. "With the bench we have we're able to play the way we want to, with Leah and Antoine coming in."

The Gophers limited North Dakota State to 11 field goals and six second-half points while forcing 35 turnovers.

Minnesota needed a good bit of that, because of its shooting struggles most of the game. The Gophers shot a season-low 28.8 percent, after back-to-back victories over the weekend in which the Gophers shot 50 percent or better in each game.

Still, thanks to the defense, it was enough.

Make that defense, a 42-31 rebounding, and a big spark from Antoine, who contributed four steals and nine points.

The game was scoreless for nearly 4 minutes. But a combination of fast breaks and free throws helped the Gophers open with a 13-2 lead. Indeed, NDSU got only seven shots -- and had 13 turnovers -- through 11 minutes while the Gophers built a 15-4 lead.

Eventually cold shooting will take a toll, which is why the Bison were able to cut the lead to six, 26-20, before the Gophers took a 28-21 halftime lead.

Minnesota was up by 10 early in the second half when back-to-back three-pointers by North Dakota State, the second by Abby Plucker, pulled the Bison within four points, 33-29.

Enter Antoine.

She answered immediately with a three-pointer of her own and the Gophers were off on an 18-0 run that ended with Cotton's two free throws with eight-plus minutes left.

"Coach tells us we have to be better than our first group," Antoine said of a Gophers bench that totaled 38 points and 25 rebounds.

Said Cotton: "I'm supposed to bring energy off the bench."

Energy, defense, rebounding. You name it. Zoe Harper came off the bench and led the team with nine rebounds, six on the offensive side. The Gophers scored 20 points off turnovers and 19 points off offensive rebounds. That was more than enough to make up for 17-for-59 shooting.

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