Gophers Overcome Slow Start to Avoid Upset in NCAA Tournament Opener

Minnesota rallies with 14-0 run in final frame to defeat Green Bay at home

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:43am

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The Minnesota Gophers women's basketball team overcame a slow start and a halftime deficit to defeat the Green Bay Phoenix 75-58 in their NCAA Tournament opener. After trailing for much of the game, the Gophers used a dominant 14-0 run to start the fourth quarter to pull away and secure the victory in front of a raucous home crowd at Williams Arena.

Why it matters

The win helps the Gophers advance to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, where they will face Ole Miss on Sunday. It's been over 20 years since Minnesota has made it to the Sweet 16, so this victory keeps their hopes of a deep tournament run alive.

The details

Minnesota struggled to find its offensive rhythm early, trailing 11-10 after the first quarter and 29-26 at halftime. But the Gophers were able to chip away at the deficit in the third quarter, setting the stage for their decisive 14-0 run to start the fourth. Amaya Battle led the way with 21 points, while Sophie Hart, Mara Braun, and Tori McKinney also made key contributions.

  • The Gophers will face Ole Miss in the Round of 32 on Sunday, March 23, 2026.

The players

Dawn Plitzuweit

Head coach of the Minnesota Gophers women's basketball team.

Amaya Battle

A key player for the Gophers, leading the team with 21 points in the victory.

Sophie Hart

A Gophers player who scored 19 points in the game.

Mara Braun

A Gophers player who scored 16 points, including some key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Tori McKinney

A Gophers player who chipped in 10 points and made a big impact after checking in during the fourth quarter.

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What they’re saying

“It's a good thing that basketball is a 40-minute game. Because we needed 40 minutes.”

— Dawn Plitzuweit, Head coach

“I thought our fans were absolutely incredible. I certainly believe that they gave us a ton of energy.”

— Dawn Plitzuweit, Head coach

“I don't know if it was nerves necessarily. I just feel like we didn't quite have our offensive flow. I felt like the ball was sticking in our hands a lot. We were taking some forced shots all the way around.”

— Sophie Hart, Gophers player

“That was probably the loudest it's been the whole time I've been here. It was like, 'Wow I actually can't hear anything.' It was a ton of fun. It was nice to have them rally behind us.”

— Amaya Battle, Gophers player

What’s next

The winner of the Gophers' Round of 32 matchup against Ole Miss on Sunday will advance to the Sweet 16.

The takeaway

Despite a slow start and a halftime deficit, the Minnesota Gophers showed their resilience by rallying with a dominant fourth-quarter performance to avoid a major upset in their NCAA Tournament opener. The team's ability to overcome adversity and the support of their passionate home crowd will be key as they look to make a deep tournament run.