Minnesota holds off No. 13 seed Green Bay 75-58 in NCAA Tournament opener

Gophers rally with 30-point fourth quarter to avoid upset at home

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:18am

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The No. 4 seed Minnesota Gophers survived a scare from No. 13 seed Green Bay, using a dominant fourth quarter to pull away for a 75-58 victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Amaya Battle led the Gophers with 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Mara Braun scored 8 of her 16 points in the final period to spark the comeback.

Why it matters

Minnesota was able to avoid a major upset at home, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Green Bay, a perennial mid-major power, gave the Gophers all they could handle for three quarters before running out of steam. The win keeps Minnesota's tournament hopes alive as they look to make a deep run.

The details

Minnesota trailed 43-34 midway through the third quarter before storming back, outscoring Green Bay 41-15 over the final 16 minutes. The Gophers shot 12-for-16 in the fourth quarter with just one turnover, while the Phoenix went 4-for-15 with five giveaways in the final period. Amaya Battle had 21 points and 8 rebounds, Sophie Hart scored 19 points, and Mara Braun added 16 points, including 8 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Gophers' comeback.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • Minnesota trailed 43-34 midway through the third quarter.

The players

Amaya Battle

A key player for the Minnesota Gophers, scoring 21 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in the win.

Mara Braun

Scored 16 points for Minnesota, including 8 in the fourth quarter to help the Gophers rally past Green Bay.

Maddy Skorupski

Led Green Bay with 19 points in the losing effort.

Jenna Guyer

The Horizon League Player of the Year for Green Bay, she was held to just 5 points and 5 rebounds.

Dawn Plitzuweit

The head coach of the Minnesota Gophers, who praised her team's resilience and the home crowd's energy in the comeback win.

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What they’re saying

“It was the loudest I've ever heard it. This is what we dream of doing, and especially at home.”

— Mara Braun, Minnesota player

“Our fans were absolutely incredible throughout the course of the entire game. I certainly believe that they gave us a ton of energy.”

— Dawn Plitzuweit, Minnesota head coach

“It's a great environment to be in, even if they're against you.”

— Maddy Skorupski, Green Bay player

“I'm amazed by how fearless they came out tonight, how they believed that they could win and for three quarters, we were in full control of this game.”

— Kayla Karius, Green Bay head coach

What’s next

Minnesota will stay home to face No. 5 seed Mississippi in a second-round game on Sunday.

The takeaway

Minnesota's comeback victory highlights the unpredictable nature of the NCAA Tournament, where even a heavily favored team can be pushed to the brink by a determined underdog. The Gophers' ability to rally in the fourth quarter and avoid the upset at home will give them momentum heading into the next round.