Prep Scene
Two former metro-area girls’ basketball standouts led the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers women’s basketball team to a 69-65 victory over North Dakota State University in the WNIT Super 16 Friday evening at Williams Arena.
The clutch performances of sophomore guard Amaya Battle (Hopkins High School) and freshman forward Nia Holloway (Eden Prairie High School) kept the Gophers’ season alive.
Holloway scored six points and grabbed six rebounds, providing two free throws and a key steal in the closing moments, while Battle contributed 11 points, five assists, and two blocks, including a jumper that gave the Gophers the lead for good.
Battle, who stands at 5’11”, was a five-time All-Conference player while leading the Royals to Class AAAA state championships in 2019 and 2022. She averaged 27 points in last month’s Big Ten Tournament held at the Target Center. The 6’0” Holloway was named to the All-Conference team four times during her varsity career with the Eagles, also earning All-State honors. She led Eden Prairie to the 2AAAA section championship in 2020.
Grace Grocholski led the Gophers with 16 points, Mallory Heyer added 13, and Janay Sanders added three assists to go along with Battle’s team-high of five.
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