Gophers Lose To Rutgers Despite Zahui B’s 36 Points

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (gophersports.com) – Amanda Zahui B. scored a career-high 36 points and added 15 rebounds and three blocks, but it was not enough as the No. 21 University of Minnesota (16-4, 5-3) women’s basketball team fell short at No. 25 Rutgers (14-5, 5-3), 66-61, Sunday afternoon at the Rutgers Athletic Center.

Zahui B. opened the game with her third-career three-pointer, but from there the Gophers had a hard time finding a rhythm offensively against the Scarlet Knights in the first half. After falling down by 20 points at 10:46, 25-5, Minnesota put together a 16-12 run to cut the home team’s lead to just six points, 37-31, at halftime.

The Gophers pushed their way back from a 12-point second-half deficit when Mikayla Bailey hit a three-pointer with 16 seconds to play to cut Rutgers' lead to just three points, 64-61. The Scarlet Knights answered with a full court fast-break layup to seal the victory just five seconds later. Zahui B. has 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in the second half, while Carlie Wagner added nine of her 12 total points in the final 20 minutes of play.

The Gophers are back at Williams Arena Wednesday when they host Penn State at 7 p.m.