Bryanna Fernstrom and Taiye Bello teamed up for 33 points and 17 rebounds off the bench to help lead the Gophers women's basketball team to an 80-56 victory over Eastern Michigan on Sunday at Williams Arena.
Reserves are key as Gophers women's basketball routs Eastern Michigan
Fernstrom (17 points, nine rebounds) and Bello (16 points, eight rebounds) shot a combined 14-for-20 from the field. Fernstrom, who also had three blocks, did all her damage in 18 minutes of playing time.
Kenisha Bell led the Gophers (8-1) with 18 points and was 4-for-8 from three-point range. She also had six of her team's 19 turnovers.
Carlie Wagner had 12 points, six rebounds and five of the Gophers' season-high 26 assists. She scored in double figures for the 91st time in her career, moving her into sole possession of third place on the Gophers' all-time list.
The Gophers, coming off their first loss of the season to North Carolina on Wednesday, were in control the entire way. They got out to an early 13-2 lead and held Eastern Michigan (2-5) to only 24 points in the first half, including eight in the second quarter.
The Eagles, who have lost five in a row, made only 22 field goals in 78 attempts (28.2 percent).
The Gophers shot 46.3 percent from the field.
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Each team has a loss to Michigan, by the same score (27-24), that suggests this one could be close, too.