It was a combination of familiar and new faces for the Gophers women’s basketball team in its season-opening 91-47 victory over North Dakota on Tuesday at Williams Arena.
Newcomers Makena Christian (23 points) and Finau Tonga (14 points); and returners Sophie Hart (16 points) and Tori McKinney (12 points) paced the Gophers, who also got a boost from the return of Mara Braun to the starting lineup.
Christian, the Wisconsin state Player of the Year last season, made 5-of-12 three-pointers to lead the Gophers in scoring while playing 21 minutes.
Braun, who played just five games for the Gophers last season before suffering a season-ending injury, returned to the Gophers lineup. She had five points, six rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes in her first game since scoring 13 points in the Gophers victory over SMU on Nov. 17 in Tempe, Ariz. Three days later, Braun suffered a broken foot in practice.
On Tuesday, she was bothered by a leg cramp.
Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit said Braun “looks like she’ll be in a spot where she’ll be completely fine and be able to come back and be ready to go.”
Christian, considered the top guard and No. 3 senior overall in Wisconsin last season, scored seven points during the Gophers’ 10-0 run to begin the fourth quarter to open an 81-38 lead.
Hart, starting her 67th consecutive game for the Gophers, scored 12 points and Christian scored 10 points in the first half as the Gophers built a 44-27 lead.
