Illinois women rally to upend No. 12 Minnesota 66-62
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Brandi Beasley scored 18 points and Illinois closed the game with an 11-2 run to rally for a 66-62 upset over No. 12 Minnesota on Sunday.
The Illini (9-5, 1-2 Big Ten) ended a three-game losing streak by erasing a 17-point third-quarter deficit.
In the fourth quarter, Illinois made all four of its 3-pointers and 9 of 17 overall for 23 points while Minnesota was 4 of 17 and had nine points.
Alex Wittinger nailed a 3 and Beasley had a free throw before Wittinger's layup put Illinois ahead 61-60 with 2:22 to play. Kenisha Bell answered with a jumper for the Golden Gophers at 2:06 but Beasley made it 63-62 at 1:41.
Minnesota missed two free throws and had a shot blocked by Wittinger before Arieal Scott's clutch 3 as the shot clock wound down with 19 seconds to go. The teams traded turnovers before Minnesota missed a 3 and 2 in the closing seconds.
The Golden Gophers (12-2, 1-2), who lost their second straight, made one of their last seven shots while Illinois was 5 of 7.
Ammalese Lamke had 18 points and Jasmine Brunson 17 for Minnesota. Bell had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
