Minnesota's Pitts says she's transferring amid suspension

Posted January 16, 2020 6:00 am

The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota leading scorer Destiny Pitts said Thursday she is transferring after the Gophers suspended her for unspecified 'œconduct unbecoming a member of the team.'ť

Pitts tweeted that she is leaving "to further my academic and athletic journey in an environment that will support me, while I develop into the person I want to become.'ť

Pitts said she was informed last Friday that she was suspended indefinitely for her 'œbody language'ť during a game against Northwestern. The junior guard said she was 'œblindsided and shocked by the suspension,'ť which she said was the first discipline of her career at Minnesota or as a basketball player at any level.

Pitts thanked her teammates and said she wishes coach Lindsay Whalen and her staff 'œnothing but the best.'ť She also thanked senior forwards Taiye Bello and Kehinde Bello. Pitts says the Bello sisters sat out last weekend's trip to Illinois 'œin protest of a suspension they know is wrong.'ť

In a statement, Whalen said, "We wish Destiny the best moving forward."

The Gophers (11-5, 1-4 Big Ten) used only seven players at Illinois on Sunday and lost 74-71, their fourth straight defeat after winning their conference opener Dec. 28 at Penn State. Minnesota hosts Iowa (13-3, 4-1) Thursday night.

Pitts was fifth in the conference with an average of 16.3 points per game. She was a first team All-Big Ten selection last season. Taiye Bello leads the conference with an average of 9.9 rebounds per game and is Minnesota's second-leading scorer. Kehinde Bello is a reserve, averaging 1.4 points per game. All three players are from the Detroit area.

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More AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

In this Dec. 31, 2019, photo, Minnesota coach Lindsay Whalen cheers after guard Destiny Pitts hit a 3-pointer during the second half against Ohio State in an NCAA college basketball game in Minneapolis. Pitts said Thursday, jan. 16, she is transferring after the Gophers suspended her for unspecified 'conduct unbecoming a member of the team.' (Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via AP) The Associated Press

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