Minnesota will play in the final Sunday if it wins.
Published: 2011-11-17
Adam Richard arichard@mndaily.com
The Minnesota women’s basketball team will play its first regular season home game this weekend against Binghamton University in the Subway Classic tournament.
The winner of Saturday’s game will play at 3 p.m. Sunday at Williams Arena.
Head coach Pam Borton said all of her players will be healthy and available for Saturday’s game.
The Gophers played to a 1-2 record in last week’s opening WBI Tipoff in Daytona Beach, Fla. Minnesota won its opener against Arkansas on Friday, but dropped the next two games over the weekend.
“This is one of the best opening-season tournaments you can play in,” Borton said of the WBI Tipoff. “We learned a lot of positive things about our team. Our work ethic and the intensity level that we carried for 40 minutes for three days in a row was unbelievable.”
Binghamton currently has a 2-0 record and had a 19-12 record last season. It posted good defensive numbers in 2010-11, including a 35.1 opposing field-goal percentage, which ranked 15th in the nation.
That may be a tough matchup given the Gophers shot only 34.7 percent over their first three games, including 26.8 percent against South Florida.
“Our shooting percentages have got to be better in a lot of areas,” Borton said. “In the post, 3-point shooting percentage, our free throw shooting percentage.”
Senior combo guard Kiara Buford led the Gophers in their first three games and is expected to be an on-court leader for Minnesota this season. She will be relaying information specifically to freshman point guard Rachel Banham.
“I tried to talk to [Banham] the whole time,” Buford said. “You learn as you progress. It’s something I’ve had to learn, is how to score with contact, draw fouls, do other things when shots aren’t falling.”
Banham started the weekend well, shooting 6-for-14 for 15 points Friday, but only shot 6-for-31 the rest of the weekend.
“My legs were very worn out by the end,” Banham said. “But with my shooting — I just need to keep working on my shot, keep getting in the gym, getting extra shots up to make it more consistent.”
Banham’s ball handling ability was on display in the team’s first three games. Borton said she was impressed by Banham’s lack of turnovers and ability to take care of the ball.
“I was very, very proud of Rachel,” Borton said. “She’s playing three tougher games than any freshman in the country. She doesn’t get a chance to get her feet wet. I think she did outstanding, and I think she learned a lot about herself.”
Junior forward Katie Loberg led the team with 21 rebounds over the first three games, but shot only 7-for-21 on the weekend.
Banham will play her first regular season game in front of a hometown crowd this weekend, and Borton said Banham isn’t the only one who is glad to be back in Minneapolis.
“This is a comfort zone for them. To be able to play in the Barn — in front of their family and friends — should be exciting,” Borton said.
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