For more than a half Saturday afternoon, the Gophers women’s basketball team looked like a formidable NCAA team. Five minutes into the second half, Minnesota led No. 13 Florida State 44-37 in its second game of the WBI Tip-Off Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The last 15 minutes were more of a heat check.
The Seminoles outscored the Gophers 31-12 to finish the game, and handed Minnesota (1-1) a 68-56 defeat. The Gophers made just three field goals in the last 15:20.
Rachel Banham had 10 points, but shot just 4-for-16 and had six turnovers. The freshman made her only 3-point shot to cut Florida State’s lead to 51-50 with 6:39 left, but the Seminoles went on a 12-0 run thereafter.
Senior Kiara Buford led Minnesota with 13 points and added four rebounds and five assists. Junior Katie Loberg had 11 points and six rebounds.
Alexa Deluzio led Florida State with 17 points, including two three-point shots following Banham’s triple to give the Seminoles a 57-50 lead.