MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota senior guard Amaya Battle drove toward the lane before dribbling back for more space along the baseline to launch the shot she — and everyone else who has ever picked up a basketball — has long daydreamed about.
First came the swish, immediately followed by the joyful screams.
Then, after watching the fifth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels’ attempt at a winner hit the front of the rim and fall short, the fourth-seeded Golden Gophers unleashed a celebration of the program’s first trip to the Sweet 16 in 21 years with a 65-63 victory in the second round of the NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament Sunday at Williams Arena.
“I think any basketball player, when you shoot on your own, you’re like, ‘OK, three, two, one,’ throw it up there and see what happens,” said Battle, who had 14 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. “It was real life today.”
The women’s tournament has otherwise been lacking in upsets and buzzer-beaters, particularly since eighth-seeded Clemson’s apparent 3-pointer at the end of regulation in the first round on Saturday didn’t count because of a clock operation error in an eventual overtime loss to the ninth-seeded University of Southern California.