Ex-Gopher McCarville makes homecoming with Lynx

Jun 1, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Lynx center Janel McCarville (4) boxes out in the fourth quarter against the Connecticut Sun at Target Center. The Lynx defeated the Sun 90-74. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

Former Gopher hoops standout Janel McCarville made her Minnesota Lynx debut on Saturday as the Lynx routed the Connecticut Sun, 90-74.

McCarville,  a 6-foot-2 center from Stevens Point, Wisc., is once-again teammates with Lindsay Whalen. Together as Gophers, the duo turned the team around from being one of the worst programs in the Big Ten to a Final Four berth in 2004.

While Whalen and McCarville carried the load for the Gophers in their 2004 NCAA Tournament run, the tandem didn’t have to resort to their college days as teammates Seimone Augustus and Maya Moore added 20 and 26 points, respectively.

McCarville played 20 minutes but did not attempt a shot. Instead, she added three rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals for the Lynx as they easily defeated the Sun.

The win was the season opener for the Lynx and the team will seek to makes its third consecutive finals appearance.

McCarville was drafted first overall in 2005 by the now defunct Charlotte Sting. Injuries set her back in her rookie season but she was picked up by the New York Liberty the following year where she went on to have a four year stint with the Liberty, averaging more than 10 points in three of those years.

In March, McCarville was acquired by the Lynx in a three team trade.

• Former Eastview standout Joey King will transfer to the Gophers from Drake. The 6-foot-9 power forward was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team in the 2012-13 season.
• Two former Gophers are still in the hunt for Lord Stanley’s Cup: Paul Martin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nick Leddy of the Chicago Blackhawks. There is a good possibility that the two players could share the ice in the Stanley Cup finals.
• Troy Larson, the center fielder for the Gophers baseball team, was named a 2013 Capital One Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Larson was a second-team selection and is the only baseball student-athlete from the Big Ten to receive the honor.

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