Banham scores 32 as Gophers earn win over Michigan

While the Gopher men’s basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak this week, the women’s squad broke a four-game skid of their own, defeating Michigan 82-67 led by Rachel Banham’s 32 points.

Banham, who scored her 1,000th career point this week, has scored 69 points in the last two games and leads the Big Ten in scoring.

On Thursday night at Williams Arena, the sophomore from Lakeville made 11-of-15 shots, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arch to give Minnesota only its third conference victory of the season.

Minnesota as a team shot a scorching 59 percent from the field and only committed four turnovers, compared to 49 percent and 12 turnovers from Michigan.

Micaella Riche added 15 points and Kayla Hirt added 10 points from off the bench.

Michigan’s Kate Thompson added 18 points for the Wolverines and Rachel Sheffer had 17 points and nine rebounds.

The Gophers, 3-5 in conference play, will travel to Nebraska on Sunday to avenge an earlier season loss to the Cornhuskers at Williams Arena.