The University of Minnesota women’s basketball team beat UNLV 79-72 in the championship game of the Lady Rebel Round-Up. It was the Gophers’ first Thanksgiving tournament championship in nine years, and moved them to 7-0 on the season. Freshman Destiny Pitts was named tournament MVP, and Gadiva Hubbard made the all-tournament roster.

Pitts had 22 points and nine rebounds in Sunday’s game in Las Vegas. She made a career-high six 3-pointers of the Gophers’ 13. Hubbard had 17 points, including three triples. Carlie Wagner had 16, and Kenisha Bell 11. Jessie Edwards pulled down 13 rebounds.

After losing an early lead, the Gophers built it back up in the third quarter. They held off the Lady Rebels (4-1) after that. Minnesota had a slight edge in rebounding, 46-43, and shot 38.9 percent to UNLV’s 35 percent. The Gophers shot 10-of-10 at the free throw line, while the Rebels were 24-of-33.

Brooke Johnson led the Rebels with 25 points. Katie Powell had 19. Nikki Wheatley notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Game notes

Wagner moved into seventh place on Minnesota’s all-time scoring list, passing Molly Tadich. Wagner has 1,719 career points. Janel McCarville (1,835) is one place ahead of her.

Pitts has 80 rebounds in her first seven collegiate games.

Minnesota has outrebounded its last six opponents.

Up next

The Gophers will travel to North Carolina for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. They will face the Tar Heels Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., with a live stream available on ACC Network Extra. Minnesota returns to Williams Arena for a Sunday game against Eastern Michigan.