Banham's 30 points leads Gophers over Maine

The senior guard is nearing the program's career scoring record.

By News services

November 21, 2015 at 6:00AM
Rachel Banham, center, before a game earlier this season.
Rachel Banham, center, before a game earlier this season. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Lindsay Whalen's career scoring record for the Gophers isn't going to stand much longer.

Not the way Rachel Banham is scoring.

The redshirt senior guard had 30 points as Minnesota rolled over Maine 91-64 on Friday night at Williams Arena. That gives Banham 2,231 points — only 54 fewer than the current Minnesota Lynx star totaled.

Banham was 10-for-15 from the field, including 6-for-9 on three-pointers.

Several other players for the Gophers (2-0) had impressive games against the Black Bears (1-2) as well. Carlie Wagner scored 23 points, Shayne Mullaney had 10 assists — and only two turnovers — and center Jessie Edwards had a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds.

Mullaney, who had six points, moved up to fourth on the Gophers' all-time career assists list with 422.

"I thought that we performed very well against a solid team out of the American East," Gophers coach Marlene Stollings said, "[Maine] won 23 games last year, they went to the [WNIT] tournament, and I think it's a team that could contend for the championship again this year."

Sigi Koizar led the Black Bears with 13 points, seven assists ands five rebounds.

The Gophers led 46-37 at halftime and finished with 90-plus points for the second game.

Minnesota made a school-record 16 three-pointers in its opener against Wofford and made 13 more on 26 shots from behind the arc against the Black Bears.

"When you shoot 50 percent from the three-point line that's tough to go against," Stollings said. "Our young ladies are very capable shooters, and we're going to put the three-ball up all year long. When we have a 50 percent night, most often times we'll come out on top."

The Black Bears were 11-for-31 on threes.

Late in the third quarter, Maine cut the lead to three before Minnesota regained control with an 18-0 run. The run spanned from the 2:45 mark of the third.

Banham (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

News services

More from Gophers

card image

San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said linebacker De'Vondre Campbell won't be part of the 49ers moving forward after he refused to enter a game after losing his starting job.

card image
card image