Guards Bailey, Wagner and Banham each score more than 20 points

Three members of the backcourt scored more than 20 points to lead the Minnesota women’s basketball team to its fourth win of the season, according to a press release.

Mikayla Bailey led the Gophers with 22 points, Carlie Wagner and Rachel Banham added 20 each and Minnesota beat Stetson 72-69 Friday in the San Juan Shootout opener at Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

Wagner scored a team-high seven points in the fourth quarter and led the Gophers (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten) with nine rebounds.

Banham continued to close in on the program scoring record. She needs 11 points to reach 2,286 and surpass Lindsay Whalen’s career mark.

Bailey poured in 13 points in the first quarter and 16 in the first half overall. She shot 5 for 7 in the half, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range, and tied her career high with six triples in the game.

The Gophers went ahead 23-18 after one quarter with all but two points coming from Bailey and Banham. Wagner scored nine points in the second quarter, but Stetson pulled ahead and had a lead as large as seven points. Minnesota cut the lead and trailed 40-39 at the half.

The Gophers were down by two entering the final quarter. Shayne Mullaney scored late in the fourth to give Minnesota a 67-66 lead. Banham’s second 3-pointer of the quarter made it 72-68 with under a minute left on the clock.

The Hatters then made a free throw and got a stop. After a timeout at the 14.2-second mark, Stetson came up empty against the Gophers’ defense.

Karley Barnes scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds in her Minnesota debut. The junior had been recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (knee) surgery.

Mullaney tallied eight assists and six rebounds. Joanna Hedstrom, in her first start of the season, had seven rebounds.

The Gophers scored 23 second-chance points from 18 offensive rebounds. Overall they outrebounded the Hatters 45-38.

After Saturday’s game against Auburn, Minnesota will play at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Duke in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.