Photo GalleryMINNEAPOLIS, MN—Minnesota exploded for 51 first-half points, one more than NJIT would get in the full game, and the Gophers prevailed over the visiting Highlanders, 83-50, Monday night in women's basketball non-conference action at Williams Arena.
Minnesota (8-3) was paced by redshirt senior Rachel Banham's game-high 22 points – 15 coming in the first half. Banham, rated 2015-16 espnW's No. 14 women's basketball player in the nation and a preseason All-Big Ten first-team honoree, finished the game shooting 8-for-17 from the field, including three treys to go along with eight rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Senior guard Mikayla Bailey scored 14 points for the Gophers, while adding seven rebounds and three steals. Sophomore guard Carlie Wagner netted 12 points and senior point guard Shayne Mullaney just missed notching a triple-double with 10 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
NJIT (3-9) had one double-figure scorer, senior
Ronni Grandison, with 14 points and four rebounds. Grandison, who was coming off a career-best 18 points vs. North Dakota State, finished the game shooting 7-for-17 from the field.
Sophomore point guard
Bianca Picard had a solid game off the bench for the Highlanders, netting eight points on 3-of-6 from the field, including two three-pointers, plus three assists and two rebounds in 19 minutes of action.
Freshman guard
Kayla Diaz added six points – all from behind the arc, while junior guard
Alana Dudley led the Highlanders on the glass with a career-best 8 rebounds, surpassing her old mark of 7 vs. Wagner on December 2, 2014.
The Gophers took control from the tip with 13-0 opening and increased their lead to 23-8 to end of the first quarter.
Minnesota poured in 28 second-quarter points to head into halftime with a 51-19 advantage. Banham led all scorers at the half with 15 points, while NJIT's Grandison and Diaz netted six points apiece.
The Gophers matched their second quarter score, 28, in the third quarter, to build a 79-29 lead.
The Highlanders outscored the home team in the fourth quarter, 21-4, led by Picard, who scored all eight of her points in the final quarter.
NJIT will return home for three straight home games, first hosting Ivy League opponent Dartmouth on New Year's Eve, December 31 at 2pm in the Fleisher Athletic Center. The Big Green, 4-10 on the season, will face Central Connecticut State on December 29 before visiting the Highlanders on December 31.
