The Minnesota women’s basketball team continued its winning streak with a 68-65 victory over Kansas State at the Sanford Pentagon.
The win comes despite a mounting list of injuries that has forced head coach Dawn Plitzuweit to rely on team depth, according to Yahoo Sports reporting.
Guard Leah Harmon, a transfer from UCF, was sidelined for the matchup following a head injury sustained during a recent game against Southern.
The program is also managing the absence of Tori McKinney, who is out for the season, and Taylor Woodson, who is still recovering from a previous knee injury, as noted by Bring Me The Sports.
Freshmen Natalie Kussow and Tori Oehrlein were called upon to fill the void, with Oehrlein making her first career start.
Kussow delivered a standout performance, recording a career-high 15 points along with five rebounds and four blocks.
Veteran Grace Grocholski provided offensive stability by contributing 11 points and eight rebounds, while Mara Braun struggled with her shooting efficiency.
Braun, who is working to return to form after consecutive season-ending injuries, finished the game with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting from the field.
Gracie Merkle, who joined the team after a stint at Penn State, saw a season-high 23 minutes of action and finished with 13 points.
Plitzuweit has utilized a cautious rotation for Merkle throughout the early part of the season, the MN Gophers section reported.
Kennedy Klick also proved vital in the final minutes of the contest by scoring two critical buckets to help seal the win.
The team now looks toward future conference play as it attempts to maintain momentum despite the roster instability.
Coaching staff members have emphasized that the development of younger contributors will be a deciding factor in the team’s postseason ceiling.
The Gophers continue to navigate a challenging schedule while waiting for injured contributors to return to the lineup.
Observers note that the team’s ability to win in close-game situations remains a defining characteristic of the current season.