Kobe tweets at Gophers' Banham again after buzzer-beater
How do you follow up a 60-point performance in which you get a tweet from your idol Kobe Bryant? With a game-winning buzzer-beater, which spurs another Kobe tweet, of course.
That's exactly what Minnesota Gophers guard Rachel Banham did Monday night, as the Minnesota women's basketball team defeated Iowa 78-76 at Williams Arena. With just seconds remaining and the Gophers trailing by one, Banham dribbled to her left and swished a 3-pointer, falling to the floor as her teammates mobbed her.
Her shot earned her a second congratulatory tweet in as many weeks from Los Angeles Lakers star Bryant, of whom Banham is a big fan.
Clutch @rachelbanham15 not many players can side fade, let alone for a game winner #mambablood
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) February 16, 2016
Others got into the tweeting act, too, including Banham's boyfriend, former Gophers guard Andre Hollins.
???? game winner! @rachelbanham15 . on a whole different planet right now. s/o @CHalvo33 for the footage pic.twitter.com/HomuNcUzpG
— Andre Hollins (@AndreHollins) February 16, 2016
Banham, a senior from Lakeville, Minn., scored 35 points and added nine rebounds and seven assists in the win, during which Minnesota overcame a 13-point deficit.
Banham has scored a combined 137 points in the team's past three games, all wins. She earned national player of the week honors for her 60-point game -- which tie the NCAA single-game scoring record -- at Northwestern, which Minnesota won 112-106 in double overtime.