Gopher women fail to win in Big Ten Tournament opener

Feb 21, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Rachel Banham (1) tries to keep the ball away from pressuring Ohio State Buckeyes guards Amber Stokes (3) and Raven Ferguson (31) at the Schottenstein Center. Minnesota won the game 57-56. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

The Gopher women’s basketball team failed to make a splash Thursday evening against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament Opener, losing to the Buckeyes 58-47.

The loss will not help the women’s chances of being picked to play in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday. The Gophers will likely not hear their name called when the teams are announced on March 18.

Sophomore Rachel Banham scored 20 points for Minnesota, while the rest of her team were trying to find the bottom of the basket.

Minnesota shot 29 percent as a team, including a 1-of-12 performance from guard Shayne Mullaney.

The Buckeyes didn’t shoot the ball much better at 35 percent, but made 17 free-throws as compared to five made attempts from the charity stripe for Minnesota.

Ohio State’s Tayler Hill led the way, converting 11-of-14 free-throws en route to 25 points. The senior from Minneapolis has averaged more than 20 points per game the last two seasons.

With the loss, the Gophers are 18-13 and 7-10 in the conference.