Minnesota never trailed against VCU as it moved to 3-0 with a 108-63 win. Kenisha Bell had her second consecutive double-double with 20 points and 10 assists, and Destiny Pitts had the first of her career with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

The Gophers shot 50 percent to the Rams’ (0-2) 34.3 percent. Minnesota scored 58 points in the paint and made 24 of 26 free throw attempts on its way to the second 100-point game of the young season.

Carlie Wagner added 17 points to Bell and Pitts’ team-high tallies. Jasmine Brunson and Taiye Bello each scored 10 off the bench. Ten total Gophers scored points.

Tera Reed led three Rams in double figures with 18 points.

How it happened

Minnesota attacked the basket early in the game. The Gophers broke a 6-6 tie with a 14-3 run fueled entirely by points in the paint and free throws. Bell scored 10 points in the quarter as Minnesota led 33-18, with 22 of its points coming in the paint.

The Gophers’ scoring slowed down early in the second, but they started making outside shots and continued converting at the free throw line. Minnesota shot 52.8 percent from the field and 13-of-14 from the free throw line to build a 55-29 halftime lead.

The lead expanded to 30 at 76-46. After a one-rebound edge in the first half, the Gophers outrebounded the Rams 16-10 in the third quarter.

Minnesota’s offense surged again for a 32-point quarter in which the Maroon and Gold shot 12-of-18 (66.7 percent).

More notes

Bell and Wagner have scored in double figures in all three games.

Minnesota has three double-doubles in the last two games. Overall, the Gophers are 34-12 under Marlene Stollings when they have at least one double-double in a game.

The Gophers have 11 triple-digit scoring games under Stollings and are 10-1 in those games.

Irene Garrido Perez scored her first five points as a Gopher, including her first 3-pointer.

Up next

Minnesota will host Boston College at 7 p.m.  Sunday. Anyone with a ticket to the men’s basketball game against Western Carolina at 3:30 p.m. will be eligible to receive a free ticket to the women’s game.