Minnesota Beats Northern Iowa 88-74 to Win WBI Championship

Northern Iowa guard Rachel Madrigal (3) drives to the basket against Stephen F. Austin's Tierany Henderson (31) during a Women's Basketball Invitational basketball game, Thursday, March 15, 2012, in Nacogdoches, Texas. (AP Photo/The Daily Sentinel, Dustin Anderson) MANDATORY CREDIT

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By Kara Kelly

Story Created: Mar 26, 2012 at 10:37 AM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 26, 2012 at 10:37 AM CDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rachel Banham scored 26 points to lead Minnesota to an 88-74 comeback victory over Northern Iowa in the Women's Basketball Invitational Championship on Sunday.

Minnesota trailed by as many as 13 points early in the second half, but Banham scored 17 of her 26 points in the final 20 minutes to spark a 52-25 run. She was one of five Golden Gophers to score in double-figures. Minnesota (19-17) concluded the season with a season-best four-game winning streak in front of a home crowd at Williams Arena and posted its first winning season since 2008-09.

K.K. Armstrong led three Panthers (19-15) in in double figures with 15 points.

The WBI is a tournament for teams that didn't get one of the 128 spots in either the NCAA or WNIT tournaments.

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