Minnesota (15-6 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) guard Emily Fox set the pace just seconds into the game with a 3-point basket to spark a 21-6 Golden Gopher run that lasted almost 10 minutes.

MSU (12-10, 4-6) went on to put together a 10-1 run of its own late in the first half, and the Spartans walked into the locker room down by 14 points, 38-24.

The second half didn’t start out any better for the Spartans as they failed to convert on many Golden Gopher turnovers and allowed them to gain momentum in a 12-6 run.

The Spartans never held the lead, or even a tie, in the 40-minute matchup and at one point early in the second half they trailed by 20 in the 12-point loss to the Golden Gophers.

Sophomore center Allyssa DeHaan was held to four points in the first half and finished the game with 10 points.

When the two teams met on Dec. 28, Minnesota claimed the game 74-63 and held DeHaan to six points.

MSU returns to the hardwood at 7 p.m. Thursday at Breslin Center to face cross-state rival Michigan.