EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — In a rugged, defensive-minded contest defined by interior dominance and a critical late-game stand, the Minnesota Golden Gophers grinded out a 65-60 victory over the Oregon Ducks in a nonconference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Matthew Knight Arena.

The game, organized by the Big Ten, saw Minnesota improve to 13-6 overall while Oregon fell to 14-7. A crowd of 4,675 watched as the Golden Gophers leaned heavily on their post presence and a standout performance from guard Amaya Battle to secure the road win.

The contest was a struggle for offensive efficiency from the opening tip. Both teams combined to shoot just 36.6 percent from the field, with Minnesota converting 28 of 64 attempts and Oregon managing only 19 of 59. The three-point line offered little relief, as the Golden Gophers hit just 3 of 19 from deep while the Ducks finished 8 of 23.

The decisive disparity came in the paint, where Minnesota established a commanding 46-16 advantage. This interior control was spearheaded by the duo of Battle and center Sophie Hart. Battle, a junior from Hopkins, Minnesota, played a complete game, logging 37 minutes and leading all scorers with 20 points. She added three assists, a block and a steal. Hart, the 6-foot-5 sophomore from Farmington, Minnesota, provided a crucial inside counterpoint, scoring 14 points on efficient shooting and recording a block in 20 minutes of action.

Oregon’s offense was more distributed but less potent. Four Ducks scored in double figures, led by Ehis Etute, Mia Jacobs and Ari Long with 11 points each. Etute, from Dudelange, Luxembourg, added three blocks and three assists. Sofia Bell of Portland contributed nine points. The Ducks were more effective at creating turnovers, generating 10 steals and converting them into 14 points, compared to Minnesota’s four points off turnovers.

The game unfolded as a tense, back-and-forth affair. Oregon held a narrow 14-11 lead after a first quarter that featured six lead changes. Minnesota responded with a strong second period, outscoring the Ducks 16-10 to take a 27-24 lead into halftime, a margin they would not relinquish.

The third quarter saw Oregon push back, tying the game at 29-29 early in the period and staying within striking distance. The Ducks closed the quarter on a 5-0 run, capped by two Mia Jacobs free throws, to trim Minnesota’s lead to 44-42 heading into the final frame.

The most important sequence of the game occurred in the final minute with Minnesota protecting a narrow lead. Leading 61-57 with under a minute to play, the Golden Gophers committed a turnover, giving Oregon a chance to close the gap. The Ducks’ Ari Long capitalized, draining a three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to a single point at 61-60.

On the ensuing inbound play, Oregon applied full-court pressure, but Minnesota’s Grace Grocholski found Sophie Hart for a layup with eight seconds left, pushing the lead back to three. Oregon’s final attempt to tie the game was a three-point shot from Katie Fiso that missed, and Hart secured the defensive rebound. She was fouled and made both free throws with three seconds left to seal the five-point victory.

Grocholski, a sophomore from North Prairie, Wisconsin, was instrumental in the closing moments and throughout the game, finishing with 19 points, including a key three-pointer in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, both teams were active, with each recording 13 turnovers. Oregon held edges in assists (10-6), steals (10-6) and blocks (3-2), but Minnesota’s ability to score inside and secure key stops in the final possessions proved the difference.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for Minnesota, which had fallen to UCLA and Washington in its previous two outings. Oregon, meanwhile, dropped its third consecutive game after recent overtime losses to Wisconsin and Iowa.

Minnesota returns to Big Ten play Sunday at home against Wisconsin. Oregon continues its homestand Saturday against Penn State.