Gophers’ Winning Streak Snapped by South Dakota State

Minnesota saw its eight-game winning streak come to an end with a 65-55 loss to South Dakota State in Williams Arena on Tuesday. The Golden Gophers, 8-2, were led by Ashley Ellis-Milan with 15 points and eight rebounds.   South Dakota State (9-1) captured its third win of the season over a Big Ten school and it did so by being the more aggressive team in the second half. The Jackrabbits made 25 trips to the free throw line in the half, making 15 to outscore the Gophers by a telling 15-6 margin.   Leading by a 33-28 score at halftime, Minnesota started the second period like it did the first with a quick run of points. The Gophers grabbed their biggest lead of the game, 11 points, on two free throws by Ellis-Milan to cap off a 6-0 run.   The Jackrabbits had a big answer in the form of sophomore forward Kristin Rotert. Rotert ended the Gophers' 8-0 run to start the game with back-to-back three-point field goals. Rotert, who scored a career-high 27 points, did it again in the second half and turned the momentum to South Dakota State 's advantage. Rotert connected on six of her seven shots from three-point range.   Emily Fox, who scored nine points missing double figures for the second straight game, hit a jumper to briefly halt SDSU's attack, but Fox's jumper at the 14:43 would be the Gophers' last for a nearly seven minutes. The Gophers' 41-34 lead would soon turn into a deficit. With the Jackrabbits missing five three throws in the stretch, Minnesota was still within striking distance and down six points (51-45) when Ellis-Milan's jumper at the 8:06 mark broke the lid off the basket for the Gophers. To read more please click here.