If the Gophers women's basketball team doesn't protect home court this season, it can kiss any NCAA tournament hopes goodbye.
That's why Sunday's 78-76 win against Indiana at Williams Arena was so critical this early in Big Ten play.
Gophers senior Rachel Banham scored 24 points and passed former Ohio State and Lynx star Katie Smith for third on the Big Ten's all-time scoring list.
But Banham's teammates had to help her hold off the Hoosiers when she struggled with just four points in the second half.
The Gophers (11-6, 3-3) led by as many as 10 points, but they trailed 76-75 after Jenn Anderson's layup with 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter.