WBIT semifinals: Minnesota vs. Florida
When: Monday, 4 p.m.
Where: Indianapolis, Hinkle Fieldhouse
Watch: ESPNU
Listen: KFXN-FM+ 96.7
How did we get here? Since missing out on the NCAA tournament, the Gophers (23-11) have won three straight tight games to get to the WBIT’s Final Four, the last an
overtime victory over Gonzaga after trailing by eight in the final 5 minutes of regulation. … Florida (19-17) edged Texas Tech to get here. The 11th seed in the SEC tournament, the Gators won two games before losing to LSU and is 5-1 in postseason play this season.
Quote: Senior post Sophie Clark: “I feel like it’s kind of showing now this postseason, all the work we did, and we kind of trust ourselves. We’ve done the work to get here, and now we just get to play and have fun.”
Scouting report: Minnesota point guard Amaya Battle scored a career-high 35 points to go with 10 assists, five rebounds and a steal against Gonzaga. Sophomore off guard Grace Grocholski leads the Gophers in scoring (13.1 ppg) and Mallory Heyer is the leading rebounder (7.6 average). … Florida point guard Liv McGill is leading the Gators in scoring (16.5 ppg), assists (5.1) and steals (2.7) in her first season since graduating from Hopkins. She has scored in double figures in 33 of her 36 games. Ra Shaya Kyle, a 6-foot-6 center, is averaging 14.4 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds.
Context: The Gophers advanced to the WNIT final last season and are now 6-1 in postseason games under second-year coach Dawn Plitzuweit. The Gators are playing in their first postseason semifinal since 2013. Belmont (25-12) and Villanova (21-14) play in the other semifinal. The championship is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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