Mara Braun’s cold-blooded baseline jumper with 90 seconds left slammed the door on No. 10 Ohio State, pushed No. 23 Minnesota to 21 wins and ended a 14-game losing streak in the rivalry—cementing the Gophers’ sweetest victory in years.
The Moment That Flipped the Script
Amaya Battle was pinned under the basket, shot clock bleeding to zero. A timeout saved possession, and coach Dawn Plitzuweit drew up a corner-inbound look designed for one option: Mara Braun curling off a screen for a rhythm 15-footer. Braun caught, rose, and buried the shot that shoved the lead back to eight, freezing a frantic Ohio State comeback and igniting a sellout crowd inside the Barn.
From Broken Foot to Breakout February
Two stress-fractured seasons ago, Braun watched Minnesota collapse down the stretch without her. Last year she lasted five games before the same foot sent her to a medical redshirt. Wednesday night she logged 18 points, 9 boards and the game’s loudest make—part of a 7-game heater in which she is hitting 46.5 % from deep and 51.3 % overall while averaging 15.7 PPG. The Gophers, owners of a 12-4 Big Ten record—their most conference wins in 21 years—now sit firmly on the NCAA Tournament’s top-four seed line.
Why the Win Matters Beyond the Rankings
- Bracket leverage: Minnesota’s NET ranking spikes into the teens, padding Quad-1 victories ahead of Selection Sunday.
- Rivalry reset: The 14-game slide versus Ohio State—dating to 2016—had become a psychological hurdle the program desperately needed to clear.
- Depth dividend: All five starters average double figures, freeing Braun from solo scoring duty and letting her pick spots for moments like the dagger jumper.
Contagious Energy, Tangible Results
Braun’s rebound has been equal parts skill and spirit. Teammates call her “mini-coach” for the way she cued defenses from the bench while injured; now her voice fuels a defense that has held four straight ranked opponents under 65 points. Plitzuweit calls Braun’s optimism “the daily vitamin” the locker room can’t function without.
What’s Next for the Surging Gophers
A home date with Iowa looms, but Minnesota already owns wins over three current Top-25 foes, proving it can win shootouts or slow-down affairs. If Braun stays hot and the defense keeps trending top-25 nationally in efficiency, the program’s first Sweet 16 since 2005 is suddenly more dream than fantasy.
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