Mara Braun has made a spirited comeback this season for the surging Minnesota Gophers

With Minnesota's lead on Ohio State cut precariously to six points, Gophers point guard Amaya Battle found herself trapped by the Buckeyes underneath the basket with the shot clock dwindling when she deftly called timeout to avoid a turnover. The inbound play design was just as wise: a pass to the corner to set up a cutting Mara Braun for a catch-and-shoot jumper just inside the 3-point line. Braun's make with 1:30 left sealed the ninth straight victory for No. 23 Minnesota, which marked its first entry of the season in the AP Top 25 poll with a 74-61 takedown of No. 10 Ohio State on Wednesday.

By DAVE CAMPBELL