MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota secured its first trip to the NCAA women’s basketball Sweet 16 in 21 years with a 65-63 victory over Mississippi on Sunday. Amaya Battle hit a jump shot with 0.7 seconds remaining, sending the Gophers past the Rebels in the second round.
The game was played at The Barn, where Minnesota fans created a raucous atmosphere. Gophers coach Dawn Plitzuweit said she had never experienced such loud support. Battle, a senior guard, finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. She took the inbound near the paint, dribbled along the baseline, and made the game-winning shot.
Tianna Thompson scored a critical 3-pointer to tie the game with 1:17 remaining. Sophie Hart then gave Minnesota the lead with an 18-second left bank shot. Latasha Lattimore answered with a layup with three seconds remaining, but Battle’s final shot sealed the victory.
Mississippi’s last attempt was short, as Tianna Thompson’s buzzer-beater hit the rim and fell away. Mara Braun added 17 points for Minnesota, and Hart contributed 10. Mississippi was led by Sira Thienou, who scored 18 points after returning from injury.
Rebels coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin credited the crowd for Minnesota’s win, despite her team’s effort. Mississippi’s senior transfer Cotie McMahon fouled out with 15 points, limiting her impact in the final minutes. The Rebels’ four-game losing streak to close the regular season cost them a top-16 seed and home-court advantage in the tournament’s early rounds.
The game drew a season-high attendance of 10,763 at Williams Arena, continuing a trend of strong home support for the Gophers. Braun said she feeds off the energy of the crowd and remembers moments like this vividly.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
