Gophers cough up early lead at Rutgers, drop sixth straight

It's been rough sledding for Minnesota without Mara Braun.

It’s been rough sledding for the Gophers women’s basketball team since star guard Mara Braun was sidelined indefinitely with a foot injury.

Minnesota looked like it was going to take advantage of a prime opportunity to get back on track, building an early 10-point lead over Rutgers. But the Scarlet Knights rallied to tie the game by halftime before eventually pulling away for an 81-73 victory Tuesday night in Piscataway, N.J.

The loss is the Gophers’ sixth straight. They haven't won since Jan. 20.

The Gophers (14-10, 4-9 Big Ten) held the Scarlet Knights (8-19, 2-12) to just eight points in the first quarter as they took a 10-point lead into the second frame, however, they mustered just nine points themselves in the second frame as Rutgers battled back to tie the game at 27-27 at the half. 

The two teams traded baskets for the majority of the second half. Grace Grocholski was on fire from 3-point range, hitting seven from deep in the game, to keep the Gophers within punching distance. But Mya Petticord matched her nearly shot for shot, hitting four from 3, and finishing her night with a game-high 25 points. 

Grocholski scored 23 to lead Minnesota.

Sophie Hart also provided some offense for the U with 15 points and seven rebounds.

The Scarlet Knights didn’t start to pull away until about the 3:30 mark in the fourth quarter as Destiny Adams made the Gophers pay with several transition buckets, including a layup that gave Rutgers a 71-62 advantage that felt nearly insurmountable with the U having cut the deficit to a single possession on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter. Adams finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for Rutgers.

Grocholski did hit a 3-pointer with 58 seconds remaining to cut the Gophers’ deficit to five, and Mallory Heyer hit one from deep with 33 seconds remaining that cut the deficit to four. But the nine-point hole late proved too much to overcome as the Gophers were unable to get any closer. 

The Gophers return home for a matinee Saturday against Northwestern. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.