Northwestern took a double-digit lead nine minutes into its first-round matchup with Minnesota, but let most of that lead slip away in the final minutes of the half, taking a 18-16 advantage into the locker room.

The Wildcats took a 16-5 lead with nine and a half minutes remaining in the opening stanza , but the Golden Gophers finished the half on an 11-2 run.

The Cats might have led by more, but they turned it over 15 times. Sophomore guard Tailor Jones turned it over five times while senior point guard Beth Marshall turned it over four times in the opening stanza..

Sophomore forward Kendall Hackney led all scorers with 10 points in the first half. Junior forward Brittany Orban and junior guard Allison Mocchi led all players with six rebounds.

Meanwhile, NU held Minnesota guard Kiara Buford to just 3 points in the first half. Buford is averaging more 15.2 points per game this season.

Neither team shot the ball very well in the first half. The Golden Gophers made just 5-of-26 from the field in the first half, while the Wildcats hit just 8-of-25. The teams combined to make just 1-of-16 three-point attempts.