Minnesota Golden Gophers @ Illinois Fighting Illini
No. 22 Minnesota women beat Illinois 78-73, clinch No. 4 seed, double-bye in Big Ten tourney
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- — Sophie Hart scored 17 points, Amaya Battle added 10 of her 16 points in the second half and No. 22 Minnesota beat Illinois 78-73 on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both teams to clinch a double-bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
Minnesota (22-7, 13-5 Big Ten), which lost 75-61 to No. 18 Michigan State last time out, has won 10 of 11 and will be the No. 4 seed in Big Ten Tournament, which begins Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Gophers tied the program's single-season record for conference wins, previously set in the 1982-83 and '84-85 seasons.
Berry Wallace hit a 3-pointer before Cearah Parchment drew a charge and then scored in the post to make it 70-all with 1:01 left in the game, but Grace Grocholski, Mara Braun and Tori McKinney combined to go 8 of 8 from the free-throw line from there to seal it.
Braun had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists, Finau Tonga also scored 11 points and McKinney added 10.
Wallace led Illinois (19-10, 9-9) with 15 points while Maddie Webber and Aaliyah Guyton each scored 14. Parchment and Destiny Jackson added 13 points apiece.
Hart scored six points in a 14-3 first-quarter run that made it 16-9 with 3:24 left in the period and Minnesota never again trailed.
The Gophers used a 11-3 spurt in the second quarter to push the lead to 15 points before Illinois scored eight consecutive points to close the first half that made it 36-29 at the intermission.
Minnesota: Plays Friday in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
Illinois: The 10th-seeded Illini play Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
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Game Information
Champaign, IL

Referee:Brad Maxey
Referee:Kelsey Reynolds
Referee:Kalei Enterline

2025-26 Standings
| Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 18-0 | - | 37-1 |
| Michigan | 15-3 | 3 | 28-7 |
| Iowa | 15-3 | 3 | 27-7 |
| Ohio State | 13-5 | 5 | 27-8 |
| Minnesota | 13-5 | 5 | 24-9 |
| Maryland | 11-7 | 7 | 24-9 |
| Michigan State | 11-7 | 7 | 23-9 |
| Washington | 10-8 | 8 | 22-11 |
| Illinois | 9-9 | 9 | 22-12 |
| USC | 9-9 | 9 | 18-14 |
| Oregon | 8-10 | 10 | 23-13 |
| Nebraska | 7-11 | 11 | 19-13 |
| Indiana | 6-12 | 12 | 18-14 |
| Wisconsin | 5-13 | 13 | 16-18 |
| Purdue | 5-13 | 13 | 13-17 |
| Penn State | 4-14 | 14 | 11-18 |
| Northwestern | 2-16 | 16 | 8-21 |
| Rutgers | 1-17 | 17 | 9-20 |
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