Minnesota WBIT Champions; Defeats Belmont 75-63

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.  - The University of Minnesota women's basketball team (25-11, 8-10 B1G) defeated Belmont (26-9, 17-3 MVC) 75-63 at Hinkle Fieldhouse Wednesday night, winning the 2025 WBIT Championship.

McKinney led the Golden Gophers with a new career high 26 points and three steals. Heyer tacked on her seventh double-double this season with 18 points and 16 rebounds and Battle helped out with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

McKinney was named WBIT Tournament MVP while earning All-Tournament team honors alongside Battle.

The Minnesota offense made hay from three-point land, pouring in nine threes on 23 attempts. McKinney hit four treys for the Gophers in the contest.

The Minnesota defense held Belmont shooters to only 33.3 percent from the field, including 26.3 percent from three-point range. The Gophers also kept Tuti Jones to 3-of-14 shooting in the game. The Bruins did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only four offensive rebounds and scored four second chance points while Minnesota pulled down 34 defensive rebounds.

How It Happened

After jumping out to a 4-2 advantage, Minnesota went on a 7-0 run with 7:12 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from McKinney, to increase its lead to 11-2. The Gophers then added one point to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with an 18-8 advantage. Minnesota did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 18 points close to the basket.

Minnesota built that first quarter lead to 29-16 before going on a 5-0 run starting at the 5:11 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three from McKinney, to increase its lead to 34-16. The Bruins cut into that lead, but the Gophers still enjoyed a 37-23 advantage heading into halftime. Minnesota was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three three-point shots to account for nine of its 19 points.

Following intermission, Minnesota continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 41-26 before going on a 9-0 run, punctuated by a basket from McKinney, to expand its lead further to 50-26 with 5:44 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Bruins had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Gophers still entered the fourth quarter with a 58-39 edge. Minnesota knocked down three three-pointers in the quarter to score nine of its 21 total points.

Minnesota kept its lead intact before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Grace Grocholski's three, to grow the lead to 63-41 with 8:22 to go in the contest. The Bruins narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Golden Gophers still cruised the rest of the way for the 75-63 win.

Game Notes

» Mallory Heyer notched her seventh double-double for the Gophers with 18 points and 16 rebounds.
» Tori McKinney led the Gophers with a 26 points.
» Minnesota lit it up from beyond the arc, knocking down nine treys in the game.
» The Gophers held the Bruins to only 33.3 percent shooting from the field.
» The Gophers never trailed after taking an 18-8 first quarter lead.
» Tori McKinney, Mallory Heyer, and Amaya Battle combined to account for 81 percent of the Gophers points.
» Minnesota had a 40-29 edge on the boards in the win.
» Minnesota got a game-high 16 rebounds from Mallory Heyer.