Gophers women dominate boards in 33-point victory over Seton Hall

The Gophers women's basketball team didn't shoot very well in the first half Sunday, yet it still led by 16 points.

When the Gophers' shooting got better, they pulled away for an impressive nonconference rout.

Carlie Wagner scored 20 points, Kenisha Bell added 17 and the Gophers rolled to a 90-57 victory over Seton Hall before an announced 3,022 at Williams Arena.

The Gophers improved to 4-0 for the third time in as many seasons under coach Marlene Stollings. They reached their fourth victory of the year by dominating a Big East team that had appeared in the past two NCAA tournaments.

BOXSCORE: Gophers 90, Seton Hall 57

Notably, the Gophers had a 66-42 edge in rebounds, falling two short of the program record of 68 rebounds, last reached in 1989. Wagner had seven rebounds, including four of the Gophers' 26 offensive rebounds.

This came one game after Georgetown outrebounded the Gophers 49-33.

Seton Hall was held to 27.3 percent shooting from the floor, and the Gophers also scored 26 points off 26 Pirates turnovers.

"Really pleased with our defense for forcing them to 26 turnovers," Stollings said. "I really thought it allowed us to get out in transition and get a lot of buckets."

The Gophers led 40-24 at halftime despite only shooting 29.5 percent in the first half (19-for-44). They improved to 48.7 percent in the second half and broke the game open by outscoring the Pirates 31-15 in the third quarter, capping the period with a Joanna Hedstrom three-pointer right before the buzzer.

Gadiva Hubbard added 13 points for the Gophers, and Jasmine Brunson scored 11 off the bech. Taiye Bello pulled down 12 rebounds in 14 minutes.

Deja Winters and Skyler Snider each scored 10 points for Seton Hall (3-1). Pirates guard Claire Lundberg (Anoka High School) started and had eight points and six rebounds in 33 minutes. Martha Kuderer (Chanhassen High School) is injured and did not play.