Kara Dunn’s Late Scoring Effort Falls Short for No. 21 USC Against Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS — Grace Grocholski led the way for Minnesota with 25 points as the Golden Gophers narrowly defeated No. 21 USC, 63-62, on Sunday. This victory marks Minnesota’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2019 and extends USC’s losing streak to three games.
In a tense fourth quarter, Minnesota converted six of 12 free throws, with four critical makes in the final 73 seconds. USC struggled offensively, committing seven turnovers during that period, which the Gophers capitalized on to build a seven-point lead with just 41 seconds left.
Kara Dunn made a spectacular push for USC, scoring eight points in the last 31 seconds, including a three-pointer at the buzzer. She finished the game with 27 points, contributing all 14 of USC’s points in the fourth quarter.
Sophie Hart added 15 points for Minnesota (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten Conference), while Mara Braun secured 10 rebounds, helping Minnesota dominate the boards, 40-32, and achieve a significant 23-2 advantage in second-chance points.
For USC (10-7, 2-3), Jazzy Davidson recorded 21 points and eight rebounds, with Davidson, Dunn, and Grocholski each netting five three-pointers during the contest.
Minnesota started strong, hitting their first five shots to take an early lead, scoring the first 10 points of the game. A turning point occurred in the second quarter when Davidson sparked a 19-0 run, propelling USC to a 32-23 advantage. However, Braun’s three-point play helped Minnesota close the gap to 34-30 by halftime.
After trailing 45-32 following a Davidson three-pointer, Minnesota responded with a 14-0 run, capped by Grocholski’s ten points, and entered the final quarter down just 48-46.
USC will aim to bounce back on Thursday against No. 8 Maryland at the Galen Center.
