Minnesota

Minnesota downs Yale’s men’s basketball, 59-56

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A second-half Minnesota surge led the Golden Gophers to a 59-56 win over Yale at Williams Arena before 8,205 fans Saturday.

The Bulldogs had led by as many as 14 (25-11) in the first half and held a 29-19 halftime lead.

Minnesota came out far more aggressively in the second half and spread the floor effectively. The hosts also made a concerted effort to get the ball to preseason All-Big Ten senior forward Dawson Garcia. Garcia registered 19 second-half points after managing only five in the first half.

“We are bending but not breaking,” Minnesota coach Ben Johnson said.

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Ivy hoops roundup – Recruits and assistants coming, transfers going

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Our latest Ivy hoops roundup features critical hires amid new starts for Harvard and Yale women’s basketball, an especially promising recruiting class for the Princeton women, some big men’s graduate transfer losses and more:

Princeton women introduce No. 19 class of recruits 

Princeton women’s basketball announced what ESPN.com deemed the No. 19 recruiting class in the nation:

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Laura Bagwell-Katalinich one of several former Ivy standouts going home

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Laura Bagwell-Katalinich will join Minnesota as a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility. (Minnesota Athletics)

Ryan Betley decided to leave the east coast for his graduate transfer year at California, but the trend has been transfers opting to move closer to home, like Seth Towns and Bryce Aiken.

Laura Bagwell-Katalinich is headed home too.

The former Cornell standout and Minneapolis native committed last month to Minnesota, another Ivy homecoming and the next chapter for one of the Ancient Eight’s most accomplished players from the past two seasons.

Bagwell-Katalinich averaged 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in two seasons at Cornell that included a junior season in which she was named an All-Ivy first-teamer as the Big Red made an Ivy League Tournament appearance. She led the team in scoring and rebounding in both of her seasons in Ithaca, and her averages in those categories were third- and fifth-best in program history.

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