Behind Carlie Wagner's 26 points and 10 rebounds the Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated Penn State 70-64 Thursday to advance to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
The 10th-seeded Gophers (15-15) led for most of the game and fended off the seventh-seeded Lady Lions' (19-10) second-half surge to regain the lead and seal it at the free throw line. Minnesota will face second-seeded Maryland 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Wagner made five 3-pointers, including the 200th of her career, and shot 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
Kenisha Bell joined Wagner in double figures with 13 points, adding four assists and tying her season high with four steals. Bryanna Fernstrom tallied eight points and three blocks. The Gophers got 22 points from their bench.
Minnesota built an early lead of as much as 12. Penn State came back to take a small lead in the second half, but the Gophers reclaimed it and made late free throws. The Gophers shot 34.4 percent to the Lions 31.1. Penn State had a 50-49 rebounding edge.
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Teniya Page carried the Lions with 35 points. She made four 3-pointers and shot 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
Wagner passed Katie Ohm for fourth place on the Gophers' all-time 3-point list. She has 201. The double-double was the third of Wagner's career and her second this season.
--Gophersports.com
