The Gopher women's basketball team picked up a much-needed win on Sunday, using a stifling defensive effort to win at Purdue 72-59.
The Gophers (12-6, 2-5 Big Ten) used a 19-0 spurt in the second half to put away the game, their first win since the controversial suspension and departure of leading scorer Destiny Pitts.
Pitts was benched a week ago by head coach Lindsay Whalen for what was called conduct unbecoming to the team. Following the suspension, Pitts announced plans to transfer.
With Pitts gone, the Gophers lost back-to-back games at Illinois and at home to Iowa, extending their losing streak to five games and dropping them into the bottom half of the Big Ten standings.
On Sunday, freshman guard Sara Scalia of Stillwater led the way against the Boilermakers with 18 points, one of five Gophers to reach double figures.
The Gophers clamped down on defense, forcing Purdue (12-7, 3-4) into 20 turnovers and 36 percent shooting from the field.
The score was tied 43-all when the Gophers took control, with Scalia and fellow freshman Jasmine Powell each scoring six points and Gadiva Hubbard adding five.
While the Gophers were pulling away on offense, Purdue missed eight straight shots and turned the ball over four times.
Taiye Bello, who sat out last week's loss at Illinois in protest of Pitts' suspension, has ten points and ten rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.
GOPHER MEN LOSE ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Gopher men's basketball team took another one on the chin away from home, falling at Rutgers 64-56.
The loss drops the Gophers' true road game record to 0-6, something they need to turn around in a hurry to impress the NCAA tournament selection committee.
Daniel Oturu of Cretin-Derham Hall led the Gophers (10-8, 4-4 Big Ten) with 19 points, but it wasn't enough to keep the Scarlet Knights from winning their 11th straight home game.
Marcus Carr, who scored 27 in last week's win over Penn State, was held to eight points.