Rachel Banham scores 19 as Gophers women rally to beat Illinois

MINNEAPOLIS -- Rachel Banham had 19 points to lead the Gophers women's basketball team to a 60-53 victory over Illinois on Thursday in their Big Ten regular-season home finale at Williams Arena.

Banham finished with four rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block. Kiara Buford had 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Micaëlla Riché had eight rebounds.

The skinny

The Illini went on a 13-0 run to take a 10-point lead midway through the first half, but the Gophers fought back to take a 26-25 lead at halftime.

"I thought we did a great job making a run to go into halftime," Gophers coach Pam Borton said, "and really kind of digging ourselves out of a hole that we were digging ourselves (into). I thought we really went into the locker room with good momentum at halftime."

The score was tied at 45 with five minutes to play when the Gophers went on an 11-0 run to secure the victory.

"The last five minutes of the game really says it all," Borton said. "I think our team really toughed it out. Proved ourselves that we can win an ugly game. It was a really ugly game, but I thought we were the tougher team tonight and really found a way to gut it out and grind it out and find a way to win."

The Gophers finished with 27 turnovers.

"I don't think we care how the game looks like other than we get the 'W' in the win column at the end," Borton said. "I thought that was a street fight. It was an alley fight."

Seniors Buford, Jackie Voigt, Brianna Mastey and Nicole Mastey were honored after the game for the Gophers' senior day.

"It could have been better," Buford said of her final game at Williams, gazing down from the podium with a scratch on her forehead, which she received from a teammate's fingernail during the game.

"It was sloppy, but as coach said, I'm glad we got the win. That was the most important thing. That was our goal going into this game, so you have to be satisfied with winning."

Voigt made her return after missing the last six games because of a concussion.

The victory evened the season series for the Gophers, who lost to Illinois 72-67 on Feb. 2 in Champaign.

Turning point

Watching the shot clock tick down below five seconds, Banham took a step back and hit a three-pointer to complete an 11-0 run by the Gophers that gave them a 54-45 lead with 1:52 to play.

"I just knew I had to make a shot," Banham said. "I saw (the shot clock) was (at) five seconds and people were counting down. I was looking around and I (thought), 'I don't know if I can drive, I don't really see anything.' I knew (the defender) was on me, but she was kind of back on her heels and I just (thought), 'I'm going to hit it.'"

Numbers game

• 47: Combined turnovers in the game.

• 4-of-6: Games won by the Fighting Illini in their last 10, including a victory over No. 9/11 Ohio State on Feb. 9.

• 1/3/2009: The last time the Gophers defeated Illinois. Buford led the scoring as a freshman with 14 points - including a three-pointer in the final minute - in the 52-48 victory.

• 1: True road victories for the Gophers this season. They defeated Northwestern, 68-60, on Jan 5 in Evanston, Ill. Ten of the Gophers' 13 wins have come at Williams Arena this season.

Overheard

"That's really cool. I mean, I'm not him, but that'd be sweet."

-- Banham on people comparing her three-pointer to the Knicks' Jeremy Lin's three-point winner Tuesday over the Toronto Raptors.

Health watch

• Kiara Buford continues to play with a fractured right wrist.

• Shonté Clay (knee) did not suit up on Thursday.

Coming up

The Gophers will face their opponents on the road for the remainder of the season and it's not going to be easy. They will play both No. 9/9 Ohio State and No. 12/17 Penn State in their final regular season games.

The Gophers upset the Buckeyes, 76-65, on Jan. 29 in Williams Arena. Penn State rallied from a 15-point deficit in the first half against the Gophers on Feb. 5 and claimed a 68-65 victory at Williams Arena.