After finishing last season as the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament champions, the Gophers women’s basketball team’s expectations are high. 

With a healthier and deeper roster this year, many assumed they would come out dominating from the opening tip. That is exactly what they did on Tuesday, delivering a 91-47 win over North Dakota State University. 

“First of all, I thought it was a great crowd,” head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said postgame. “They brought a lot of energy and our players did a great job feeding off of that. You could really feel it in a few areas.”

That energy clearly translated into how Minnesota played. The Gophers forced 21 turnovers, held North Dakota to 21.2% shooting from the field and limited them to 19.4% from three. Even when their own shots were not falling, the Gophers’ defensive effort never wavered. 

Senior Amaya Battle was a key piece of their defensive presence. She ended the game with 10 rebounds, seven assists and zero turnovers. Though she did not score, she was an anchor for the Gophers, keeping them connected. 

“When people look at a stat sheet, it can be misleading,” Plitzuweit said. “Amaya only took three shots, but she had a huge impact. She really set the tone for us on both ends.”

The night’s breakout performance came from freshman Makena Christian. She shone in her collegiate debut with 23 points, including five three-pointers. Coming off the bench in her first game, she provided instant offense and steady composure not often seen in freshmen. 

“I was excited to play with all my teammates,” Christian said. “Being in the Barn was really cool. The atmosphere and energy were great.”

Plitzuweit said she was not surprised by her performance, praising how she handled her first NCAA game. 

“I thought she handled the emotions of her first home contest at a really high level,” Plitzuweit said. “She’s calm and steady by nature, and she did really good things on both ends of the court.” 

A big question heading into the game was how their frontcourt would look, especially after Mallory Heyer’s departure. Heyer led the Gophers in rebounds last season, but Minnesota dominated in game one without her, with 58 team rebounds. 

Graduate students Sophie Hart and Finau Tonga made the most of the extra possessions and demonstrated a willingness to share the ball. Hart finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, while transfer Tonga added 14 points and six offensive rebounds. They recorded 18 assists on 35 field goals. 

Their play as a team was impressive, but one of the night’s most emotional moments belonged to an individual. Less than a minute into the game, redshirt junior Mara Braun drained a deep three in her first appearance after two consecutive seasons cut short by injury. 

This was not just any basket; it was a statement — Braun is back. 

“Mara impacts the game in so many ways,” Plitzuweit said. “Her pure joy and the way she carries herself are incredible. She changes how the defense guards you.”

Braun ended the night with five points, but that should not be a concern. This Gophers team is not built around one player. They do not expect or need Braun to carry them. What will make them dangerous is their depth and trust in each other to make plays on both sides of the court. 

Every player has to buy in, communicate and play with energy. That connection has been emphasized all preseason by Plitzuweit. Tuesday night showed exactly what that looks like. 

“This isn’t going to be a team where one kid is the focal point,” Plitzuweit said. “We have the ability to play and attack in multiple ways. The question is whether you can still play with defensive intensity when shots aren’t falling. Some teams can’t. This team did that tonight.”