Banham Lifts Gophers Over Jaguars 107-62

MINNEAPOLIS - Senior Rachel Banham paced the University of Minnesota (4-0) women's basketball team to its fourth-straight win Tuesday night, as the Golden Gophers defeated Southern University (1-4), 107-62, behind the senior's 32 points and career-high eight three-pointers. It marked just the 11th time in program history that the Maroon and Gold have scored 100 or more points and the second time this season.

Of Banham's team-leading 32 points, 24 came from behind the arch, where she hit on eight of her 16 attempts. Fellow senior Shae Kelley tallied her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Amanda Zahui B. also posted a double-double, the 21st of her career, with 12 points, a game-high 15 rebounds and six blocks. Kayla Hirt added 14 points and six rebounds to give Minnesota four double-figure scorers for the fourth-straight game.

Freshman Tory Jacobs and sophomore Joanna Hedstrom each posted career-highs with nine and seven points, respectively, in Minnesota's 45-point victory over Southern, while freshman Josie Buckingham tallied her first career points late in the second half.

The Gophers notched a .506 field goal percentage, while out-rebounding the Lady Jaguars, 57-47.

Minnesota took control of the game early on, scoring 62 points in the first half, a total good enough for third on the Gophers' all-time list for points in a half. The Gophers started the game on a 13-0 run in the opening minutes of play and never trailed the Jaguars through the forty-minute contest.

Mid-way through the first half, the Maroon and Gold did not allow Southern to score a point for nearly four minutes.

Four Gophers scored in the double-digits in the first stanza alone, including Zahui B. who tallied a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds through the first 20 minutes of play. Kelley (11), Kayla Hirt (12) and Banham (19) all contributed to the Gophers strong first-half performance.

The Gophers went on to dominate in the second half, holding Southern to just 34 points while accumulating a 47-points lead, their largest of the game, with just two minutes remaining in the contest.

Minnesota is set to compete in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Ft. Myers, Fla., over Thanksgiving weekend. The Gophers will face Vanderbilt in the first round of play on Friday, Nov. 28 at 5 p.m. CT.