After a strong first half, Minnesota fell 85-69 at Michigan State on Thursday night.
Before halftime, the Gophers (14-13, 5-9 Big Ten) dominated the boards and shot 14-from-18 from the free throw line. But they could not overcome the Spartans' 52.4-percent shooting overall.
Jessie Edwards had 14 points and six rebounds for the Gophers. She was 6-for-7 from the free throw line. Carlie Wagner scored 13. She and Whitney Tinjum had a team-high eight rebounds as Minnesota edged Michigan State 39-37 on the boards. The Gophers were 24-for-32 shooting free throws.
The Gophers played aggressively early in the first quarter and converted the Spartans' fouls into a 7-of-8 quarter at the free throw line. At the end of the quarter, the Gophers ran down the clock and then Kenisha Bell banked in a jumper from inside the free throw line to give Minnesota a 20-19 edge.
Minnesota held Michigan State without a field goal for the first four-plus minutes of the second. The Gophers built a 35-27 lead, again making seven free throws in a quarter. Edwards scored six points in the second, including a 4-for-4 performance at the line. But the Spartans ended the half on a 10-0 run in the last 2:12, taking advantage of Minnesota turnovers for a 37-35 lead. The Gophers outrebounded the Spartans 25-15 in the first half. Michigan State's 3-point shooting (5-of-13 compared to the Gophers' 1-of-6) helped give the home team the edge.
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Michigan State jumped to a 48-37 lead in the first few minutes of the second half. The Spartans led 52-40 at the 5:56 mark. The Gophers cut that lead in half to trail 61-55 at the end of the third despite 66.7-percent shooting from the Spartans in the quarter. Gadiva Hubbard had a three-point play and two additional free throws, and Wagner went 4-for-4 at the line late in the third.
After Bell made one of two free throws, the Spartans pushed their lead back to 10. After Edwards scored in the post to cut it to eight, Michigan State scored again and continued to expand the lead.
Minnesota will honor its seniors as it hosts Purdue next Thursday, Feb. 23. The 8 p.m. game will be televised on BTN.
