COLUMBUS, Ohio - Stephanie Mavunga scored 25 points and Kelsey Mitchell added 21 to help No. 10 Ohio State rout the Gophers 91-75 on Thursday night in Big Ten women's basketball before an announced 4,519 at Value City Arena.
Mavunga made 11 of her 15 shots and grabbing five rebounds before leaving the game with 7 minutes, 49 seconds left. The Buckeyes played tight, aggressive defense in limiting the Gophers, who were averaging nearly 87 points a game, to 39 percent shooting. Minnesota also turned the ball over 17 times, leading to 18 Ohio State points.
"We got many, many really good looks that we wanted, but we didn't knock those down," Gophers coach Marlene Stollings said. "Obviously, we didn't get second shots off. You can't be cold when you play them, and we knew that.
"They're very talented, as talented as I've seen in my four years going against them here at Minnesota. They have a lot of experience out on the floor."
Freshman forward Destiny Pitts paced Minnesota (12-4, 1-2 Big Ten) with a career-high 28 points, including seven three-pointers, but she didn't get in a rhythm until the game was out of reach. Pitts had five three-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Gadiva Hubbard added 14 points for the Gophers and Carlie Wagner had 12 points on 5-for-18 shooting but a season-high nine rebounds.
Bryanna Fernstrom made her first start at center, but played only 11 minutes and had four points. Taiye Bello was the most effective reserve with five points and 10 rebounds in 14 minutes.
Point guard Kenisha Bell, who had scored at least 20 points in six consecutive games, had eight points. She was only 4-for-19 from the field and had four turnovers.
