After scoring only 58 points in a four-point loss to Northwestern in its last outing, the Illini women’s basketball team recorded 52 points in the first half alone against Minnesota on Monday.

Led by 21 points and 12 rebounds from senior forward Karisma Penn, the Illini knocked off Minnesota 91-86 in Minneapolis. The Illini are now 4-0 on the road in Big Ten games.

“Really proud of our team,” Illini head coach Matt Bollant said. “Big win for our program to go on the road and win our first four says a lot about our resiliency. …. Our kids stepped up and made plays.”

Minnesota (13-8, 2-5) missed multiple chances to tie or take the lead late in the last minute of the game, but the Illini (11-8, 4-3 Big Ten) held on, as sophomore guard Alexis Smith iced the game with two late free throws.

The first half was tightly contested aside from a 5-0 Illinois run to begin the game. With 13:44 left in the first half, the score was deadlocked at 11-11. Then Illinois found its offensive rhythm.

The Illini went on a 20-10 run behind four 3-pointers, stretching the score to 31-19. Minnesota responded with a 15-6 run of its own, bringing the Golden Gophers within three points of Illinois, 37-34.

Illinois went on a 10-0 run to end the half, including two more 3-pointers, entering halftime with a 52-41 lead. Illinois’ 52 points in the first half is its most points scored in any half this season.

Illinois entered Monday’s game shooting only 28.9 percent from the 3-point line, but made seven first half three 3-pointers at a 41.2 percent clip, led by three from junior guard Amber Moore, whose second 3-pointer of the night moved her into third all-time in program history in 3-point field goals made. She made five 3-pointers in total to spearhead a season-best shooting effort from the Illini, who drained 11 long balls, its largest total since the first game this season.

Senior guard Adrienne GodBold led Illinois in the first half with 11 points and nine rebounds, including five offensive boards, helping Illinois outrebound Minnesota 24-23 in the first half. Penn and Moore contributed 10 points each to give Illinois three double-digit scorers by halftime.

After withstanding a 15-6 run to begin the second half, the Illini stretched out its lead by going on a 19-7 run to extend its lead, 77-63, at the 10:11 mark in the second half.

Minnesota didn’t give up, answering with a 19-4 run with 4:11 remaining in the game. Sophomore guard Rachel Banham’s and-one with 4:29 remaining gave GodBold her fifth foul of the game, disqualifying her on fouls for the seventh time on the season.

Banham was a terror for the Illini, keeping Minnesota in the game with 37 points, the most by an Illini opponent this season.

With GodBold out of the game, sophomore guard Taylor Tuck stepped up and made several clutch plays, finishing the night with a career-high 16 points. Three other Illini scored 16 points or more, helping Illinois win its first four roads games in the Big Ten since the 2000-01 season.

Michael can be reached at wonsovr2 @dailyillini.com and @m_dubb.