Washington Defeats Minnesota 79-65 in Big Ten Tournament

In Indianapolis, the Washington Huskies secured an impressive victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers with a 79-65 win during their first appearance in the Big Ten Tournament. Washington, the 12th seed, saw strong performances from Elle Ladine with 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Meanwhile, Sayvia Sellers and Dalayah Daniels contributed significantly, each scoring 15 points.
Additionally, Washington had previously defeated Minnesota 72-62 on February 26. This victory allows Washington, now holding a 19-12 record, to advance to the second round where they will face the fifth-seed Michigan Wolverines on Thursday. The Huskies have a challenging matchup ahead as they lost their regular-season game against Michigan 82-69 on January 15.
Daniels gave Washington a slight edge with a putback basket at the end of the first half, pushing the team to a 32-30 lead. Ladine shone during the first half, securing a game-high 15 points by the break. Washington surged ahead in the third quarter with a decisive 12-0 run, establishing a 52-38 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the period. Sellers was instrumental during this stretch, hitting two crucial 3-pointers and assisting Tayra Eke to maintain Washington’s offensive momentum.
Despite Minnesota’s efforts to narrow the deficit with a 7-0 run closing the third, Washington responded effectively in the fourth. Hannah Stines stepped up by scoring five points at the beginning of the quarter, contributing to a 7-0 run which expanded Washington’s lead to 13 points. Stines concluded the game with 14 points, leading Washington to their sixth consecutive victory over Minnesota.
On Minnesota’s side, Grace Grocholski put forth a valiant effort, scoring 21 points, while Mallory Heyer added 11. The loss marks Minnesota’s 11th of the season against Big Ten adversaries, and it brings their tournament track record to 11-32. Notably, the Gophers haven’t advanced to the final since 2005. The team’s challenges within the tournament continue to linger as they aim to overcome this historical hurdle in future seasons.