Gophers women drop third game in a row, struggle at Northwestern

Playing on the road for the first time this season, Minnesota lost at No. 16/17 Northwestern (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten) Monday night, 80-51, in Evanston, Ill.

Sophomores Jasmine Powell and Kadi Sissoko reached double figures for the Golden Gophers (1-3, 0-2 B1G), scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Powell has now scored at least 15 points in every game this season and she added seven assists, matching her season average, which entered the game tied for the best in the Big Ten. The Detroit, Mich., native added five rebounds, a season-high three steals and her two blocks tied a career high.

Sissoko scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half, including all seven of Minnesota’s points in the third quarter. Her 14 points were second highest total of the season behind her 24 in the season opener. She matched a career high with nine rebounds, finishing one board shy of her first career double-double.

Minnesota found itself in an early hole and was unable to dig out of it.

A 3-pointer from sophomore Sara Scalia gave the Golden Gophers an early 3-2 lead, but the Wildcats scored the next 17 points to lead 19-3 less than five minutes into the first quarter.

Veronica Burton finished with a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists for Northwestern, while Sydney Wood (19), Lindsey Pulliam (13) and Courtney Shaw (10) all reached double figures.

The Golden Gophers got the game back within single digits multiple times in the first half, including as late as 32-23 with 5:32 to play in the second quarter. Northwestern immediately responded with an 8-0 run at that point, however, and led by double digits the rest of the way.

After a nine-day break from competition for final exams, Minnesota will return to the court on Dec. 23 when it hosts Indiana at 1 p.m.