Banham Records 2000th Career Point In Gopher Win

MINNEAPOLIS - Senior Rachel Banham became the fourth Gopher in program history to score 2,000 career points as the University of Minnesota (1-0) women's basketball team defeated Southeastern Louisiana (0-1), 109-60, in its season opener at Williams Arena on Friday evening. It marked the first win in the Marlene Stollings era of Gopher women's basketball.

It was the first 100-plus point game for the Maroon and Gold in 12 years.

Banham finished the night with 18 points and six assists, while three additional Gophers scored twenty or more points en route to the Gophers' 49-point victory. Junior Kayla Hirt recorded a career-best 21 points and added seven rebounds, while newcomer Shae Kelley and sophomore Amanda Zahui B. tallied 21 and 20 points, respectively.

Zahui B. recorded her 19th career double-double after grabbing a team-best 12 rebounds on the evening. Kelley also posted her first double-double as a Gopher with 10 rebounds. Ten Gophers contributed points in the victory, including freshman Carlie Wagner (6), Tory Jacobs (2) and Rangie Bessard (7).

Minnesota led the Lady Lions at halftime, 57-38, after impressive first-half performances from Hirt and Zahui B., who concluded the first 20 minutes of play with 14 and 16 points, respectively. Kelley kick-started the Gophers' offense as she scored the first points of the 2014-15 season to begin an 11-2 run in favor of the Maroon and Gold.

Banham knocked down her 2,000th point at the 10:05 mark in the first half. She joins Lindsay Whalen, Carol Ann Shudick and Laura Coenen on the prestigious list of Gopher greats to reach the milestone.

The Maroon and Gold are set to host Cleveland State on Nov. 19 at noon.