April 3, 2024
Postseason WNIT | 4/3/2024 9:21:13 PM
MINNESOTA 74, TROY 69
TROY, AL – Minnesota committed seven turnovers in the fourth quarter but had the steadiest hand late, as freshman Grace Grocholski hit a critical 3-pointer with 40 seconds to go as the Gophers moved past Troy and earned a spot in the championship game of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Gophers (20-15) will take on Saint Louis in the title matchup, which is set for tipoff (location TBA) at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 6, to be broadcast by CBS Sports Network.
In a low-scoring and pressure -packed fourth quarter, Janay Sanders hit a shot for Minnesota to give it a 68-62 lead with 2:58 to go. Ja’Mia Hollings answered with five straight points for Troy, which then trailed just 68-67 with :55 remaining.
Grocholski then drained her 3-pointer at :40; the Trojans missed a 3-pointer, and Grocholski hit a free throw as the lead moved to 72-67 with :23 remaining. Amaya Battle sunk two free throws for the Gophers at :10 to wrap up the victory.
Battle finished with 18 points; Mallory Heyer came through with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Sophie Hart added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Grocholski had 11 points as the Gophers forced 16 turnovers.
The Trojans (22-12) got all but four points from three players. Hollings had 25 points and 12 rebounds, Tai’Sheka Porchia closed with 21 points and 10 rebounds and Makayia Hallmon had 19 points. Troy finished with the edge in rebounds, 50-46.
SAINT LOUIS 57, VERMONT 54
BURLINGTON, VT – After struggling in the second quarter and putting up just four points, Saint Louis burst out with 24 points in the third quarter, building a lead and holding on to top Vermont on Wednesday to earn a spot in the championship game of the 2024 Postseason WNIT.
The Billikens (21-18) will face Troy or Minnesota for the title; tipoff (location TBA) is set for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 6, with the game to be broadcast by CBS Sports Network.
Andjela Matic hit a 3-pointer for Vermont to pull her team within 48-46 with 4:32 to go; a hook shot from Brooklyn Gray pushed the Billikens ahead, 56-50 with about a minute to go. Emma Utterback made a layup to pull the Catamounts close again, 56-52, but they missed a shot with 11 seconds to go, and a steal by Gray helped eat some time. Gray made one free throw at the :04 mark to seal it.
Gray finished with 13 points and Tierra Simon had 14 rebounds. SLU had 18 turnovers but finished with a 34-26 lead in rebounds.
The Catamounts (25-12) saw Bella Vito finish with 11 points and 11 rebounds; Utterback had 10 points and Delaney Richason scored nine points.
Vermont grabbed the lead with an 11-0 run to start the second quarter as Saint Louis didn’t dent the scoreboard until Kennedy’s basket with 2:08 to go before halftime. At the break the Catamounts had a 24-17 lead; backed by a personal 8-0 run by Gray, the Billikens rallied in the third quarter and took a 41-37 lead into the final 10 minutes.