MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Minnesota Golden Gophers opened their 2025-26 women’s basketball season with a dominant performance, overwhelming the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 91-47 in a non-conference matchup Tuesday night at Williams Arena.

From the opening tip, the Golden Gophers established control, leveraging their significant advantages in size, athleticism, and defensive pressure. The game was never in doubt as Minnesota built a 21-10 lead after the first quarter and extended it to a 44-27 margin by halftime. The onslaught continued after the break, with the Gophers outscoring the Fighting Hawks 27-11 in the third quarter to put the game completely out of reach before a crowd of 3,384.

The statistical disparity was stark, illustrating the one-sided nature of the contest. North Dakota’s offensive struggles were profound, as the team managed to make just 11 of its 52 field goal attempts, a shooting percentage of 21.2 percent. From beyond the arc, the Fighting Hawks were 6 for 31. While they found some success at the free-throw line, making 19 of 24 attempts, their inability to generate efficient offense was the story of the game. North Dakota finished with an offensive rating of just 60.7 points per 100 possessions.

Minnesota, by contrast, operated with efficiency and force. The Gophers shot 40.7 percent from the floor, making 35 of 86 attempts, and were a solid 14 for 16 from the free-throw line. Their offensive rating of 114.3 dwarfed that of their opponent. The Gophers’ dominance was most evident in the paint, where they outscored North Dakota 44 to 8, and in points off turnovers, where they held a 26 to 4 advantage.

The Gophers’ defense was relentless, forcing 19 North Dakota turnovers while committing only seven themselves. Minnesota also recorded 12 steals and controlled the glass, pulling down 21 offensive rebounds compared to just five for the Fighting Hawks. This led to a significant disparity in second-chance opportunities and overall possessions.

Individually, the Gophers showcased a balanced and potent attack. Makena Christian led all scorers with 23 points in just 20 minutes of action, connecting on three shots from three-point range. Finau Tonga provided a massive presence inside, scoring 14 points and grabbing seven rebounds, also in a limited 11-minute stint. Sophie Hart added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Tori McKinney contributed 12 points.

The facilitation of the offense was expertly handled by Amaya Battle, who dished out seven assists, grabbed 10 rebounds, and recorded a block and a steal in a well-rounded performance. Niamya Holloway was a force on the boards with six rebounds, and Kennedy Klick provided a late spark with four points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in just four minutes on the court.

For North Dakota, the bright spots were few. Ava Miller led the team with 11 points and four rebounds. Mackenzie Hughes added nine points, and Walker Demers chipped in eight points and six rebounds. The Fighting Hawks’ ball movement was stifled by the Minnesota defense, resulting in only three total assists for the game.

With the victory, Minnesota begins its season with a record of 1-0. The Golden Gophers will return to action at home on Friday against Manhattan. North Dakota, which falls to 0-1, will look to rebound on its home court this Friday against Youngstown State. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Minnesota with a 98.80 percent probability to win, a forecast that proved accurate as the Gophers delivered a comprehensive victory to start their campaign.