2014-2015 Gopher Women's Season Thread!

Even if they get killed, a ton of value in playing UConn. Especially want to see how Banham, Zahui B, and Wagner compete against a team with elite players up & down the roster.

Spoke to a couple of long time women's season ticket holders at the game last night and don't neglect Shae Kelley. They are very impressed with her and also with how Kayla Hirt has looked with this new system. Reminds a bit of when Brenda arrived. Stollings has inherited a lot of talent, league-wise they're not getting that much respect, and all of a sudden people go, "Hey, they're awfully good."
 

Yep, Kelley a nice talent as well.

I fail to see how this team won't compete for a Bg Ten championship, and much, much more. Quite frankly, players 1 through 4 they'll be more talented than any team in the Big Ten, and the Big Ten isn't exactly a strong women's basketball conference. Gophers have good guards, they have quality bigs, and much improved athleticism (adding Kelley to Banham is huge).

Big Ten has lots of solid teams year in & year out but rarely have elite teams capable of doing anything more than getting to the Sweet 16. Don't follow the women's game like I do the men, but it took all of one game (in person) for me to see this team has the talent to break that Big Ten mold. Moreso in women's basketball than men's, if you have 2 truly special talents (i.e. Whalen, McCarville) you have a chance to be elite. But if you have 4 (Banham, Zahui B, Kelley, Wagner). ... extremely high ceiling.
 

What a second half by the Gophers! We really blew this thing open.

Go Gophers!!
 

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Go Gophers!!
 




Only seven deep today. That's gonna catch up to them.
 





@Lives2Inspire
Big 3. RT @TheSportsBrain Banham had 27 pts & 13 assists, Kelley had 21 pts & 14 rebs & Zahui had 15 pts, 14 reb & 5 blks #ncaaw #Gophers
 

Yep, Kelley a nice talent as well.

I fail to see how this team won't compete for a Bg Ten championship, and much, much more. Quite frankly, players 1 through 4 they'll be more talented than any team in the Big Ten, and the Big Ten isn't exactly a strong women's basketball conference. Gophers have good guards, they have quality bigs, and much improved athleticism (adding Kelley to Banham is huge).

Big Ten has lots of solid teams year in & year out but rarely have elite teams capable of doing anything more than getting to the Sweet 16. Don't follow the women's game like I do the men, but it took all of one game (in person) for me to see this team has the talent to break that Big Ten mold. Moreso in women's basketball than men's, if you have 2 truly special talents (i.e. Whalen, McCarville) you have a chance to be elite. But if you have 4 (Banham, Zahui B, Kelley, Wagner). ... extremely high ceiling.

I agree. They ought to be in the mix for the conference title, barring injury.
 








Looks like someone slowed them down. That's probably going to be the MO on Gopher women, make them play in the half court, and make them guard. Will they be able to win grinders?
 

Kelley with 20 and Carlie Wagner didn't score. Second game in a row they've been behind at the half?
 




Memphis runs a half court offense. They lost at Illinois by 2 points. Good win for the ladies.
 



62-28 at halftime...my word can they put up points.
 



N COURT............ POS MIN PTS FG 3FG FT REB AST STL BLK TO PF
Banham, Rachel G 24 32 10/19 8/16 4/4 5 5 1 1 0 2
Kelley, Shae F 22 16 6/10 0/0 4/6 10 1 5 0 5 2
Hirt, Kayla F 17 14 7/11 0/0 0/0 6 1 0 0 0 0
Zahui, Amanda C 21 12 5/6 0/0 2/3 15 1 1 6 1 2
Jacobs, Tory G 22 9 3/6 1/2 2/5 0 3 1 0 3 2
Hedstrom, Joanna G 18 7 3/5 1/3 0/0 3 1 0 0 2 0
Wagner, Carlie G 23 6 2/7 0/3 2/3 4 0 0 1 3 4
Bailey, Mikayla G 21 5 1/7 1/6 2/2 1 5 2 0 0 3
Buckingham, Josie C 5 4 2/3 0/0 0/0 2 0 0 1 0 1
Bessard, Rangie F 11 2 1/2 0/0 0/1 4 1 0 0 1 1
McDaniel, Stabresa G 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mullaney, Shayne G 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Johnson, Jackie F 0 0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coughlin, Grace G 16 0 0/3 0/3 0/0 2 2 1 1 1 1
 

107-62 final.

Banham with your run-of-the-mill 32 points and 8 made threes.
Shae Kelley with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals (in limited minutes).
Zahui had 12 points, 15 rebounds, 6 blocks (also in limited minutes).
Hirt pitched in with 15 points.
 





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