Minnesota closed out the non-conference schedule with a commanding 92-62 win against Kent State. The Golden Gophers finished non-league play with a 9-4 record, including a 7-1 mark at home.

Kenisha Bell led five Gophers in double figures, with 20 points on 10-of-15 shooting. She added seven assists and four steals. Whitney Tinjum, Joanna Hedstrom and Allina Starr each had season highs with 18, 17 and 13 points, respectively. Carlie Wagner added 13 points. She and Tinjum each made three 3-pointers.

Minnesota shot 50.7 percent, its best field goal percentage in a game this season. The Gopher defense held the Golden Flashes (6-6) to 27.8 percent from the field, including a 1-for-20, two-point first quarter. Minnesota scored 46 points in the paint, and 28 points off turnovers.

Megan Carter had 13 points to lead Kent State and McKenna Stephens had 12. The Golden Flashes went 1-of-16 from 3-point range while the Gophers made of 8 of their 19 attempts. Each team had 50 rebounds.

First quarter

After Kent State scored on its first possession, the Gophers scored the rest of the points in the quarter. They led 24-2 on 59 percent shooting while the Golden Flashes were 1-for-20. Hedstrom made two 3-pointers and had eight points in the opening frame.

Second quarter

Two free throws in the first minute of the quarter and a pair of jumpers snapped Minnesota’s 24-0 run. The Gophers still held a 20-point lead, 44-24, at halftime. Tinjum had a team-high 12 points in the first half.

Third quarter

The Gophers extended the lead in the third behind 12 points and three assists from Bell. They had a 70-41 advantage going into the fourth.

Fourth quarter

Minnesota maintained its lead in a free throw-heavy quarter. The Gophers made six of 10 free throw attempts and the Golden Flashes made 11 of 12 but could not close the gap.

More notes

The Gophers reached the 90-point mark for the fourth time this season. They are 4-0 in those games. Under Marlene Stollings, Minnesota is 19-1 when scoreing at least 90 points.

It was the second time this season in which five Minnesota players scored 10 or more points. The first was the season opener against Harvard.

Bell has four 20-point games this year among her 12 double-digit games. Wagner also has 12 games in double figures.

Jessie Edwards had eight rebounds and two blocks. With 71 career blocks she is two blocks away from tying for 10th in Minnesota history.

Coming up next

The Gophers open Big Ten play at Ohio State Wednesday. They return home for a Jan. 1 matchup against Maryland, featuring a Rachel Banham jersey retirement ceremony. Free replica banners will be given out on a first come, first served basis.