University of Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA LOOKS TO BREAK LOSING STREAK DURING THREE-GAME HOMESTAND
1/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MAKING A MARK WITH THE NEXT "W" - The seven victories compiled by the Gophers this season, matches the total from a year ago, when Minnesota posted a 7-20 mark. Another win this season, the Gophers' eighth, would mark the most wins in a season in five years, dating back to a 12-15 record in 1994-95.
KEEPING TABS ON ALL THE THREES - The three-point field goal is a major part of the Minnesota game plan. The Gophers have attempted a three-pointer in 35.0 percent of their field goal attempts. The 98 treys recorded by the Gophers tops the Big Ten and, just 16 games into the season, ranks third in Gopher history for season three- point field goals made as a team. This year's Gopher team needs just five triples to move into second all- time, a mark of 102 compiled by the 1994-95 Gophers in 27 games. The Minnesota team record for three-pointers made in a season is 120 in 27 games by last year's club.
BIG TEN SCORING BLUES - Minnesota's scoring average in Big Ten games has slipped to 50.8 points per game, a conference low. The Gophers' dip in scoring average reflects their struggles shooting from the field. Overall, Minnesota has converted 33 percent of its field goal attempts in Big Ten play. That statistic falls to 27 percent from three-point range. After shooting below 30 percent in three of their last four games prior to Purdue, the Gophers shot a respectable 42 percent (20- 48) from the field against the Boilermakers, 43 percent (9-21) from three-point range. Minnesota's 60 points scored in their last outing was just the second time in its six Big Ten games that the Gophers put 60 or more points on the scoreboard (61 vs. Indiana, 60 vs. Purdue).
A STREAK TO BURY - Here's a streak dating back three years that has to go. Minnesota has lost 20 straight Big Ten games at home. Coach Cheryl Littlejohn (0-19) has yet to experience a conference victory on her home court. The last Big Ten win in the Sports Pavilion was a 66-64 victory over Ohio State on Feb. 2, 1997. There is not a single Gopher on this season's roster who played in that victory.
GOPHERS FIND AN EVEN MATCH IN THE WILDCATS - Minnesota's scoring woes in Big Ten play find the Gophers ranked 11th is scoring offense (50.8 ppg). Northwestern's struggles defensively in league play have the Wildcats ranked last in scoring defense (74.4 ppg.) in conference play. Ironically, Minnesota's defense (71.3 ppg.) and Northwestern's offense (54.6 ppg.) also match, both ranked ninth.
LIESER AMONG THE NATION'S BEST FROM LONG RANGE - In last week's release of NCAA statistics, Lindsay Lieser (New London, Minn./New London-Spicer) was ranked ninth in the nation in three-point field goals made per game. She averages 3.1 three-point field goals per game.
TRIPLE THE IMPACT - The backcourt tandem of Lindsay Lieser and Cassie VanderHeyden (East Bethel, Minn./St. Francis) has combined to hit 81 treys in 229 attempts. Between the two, they have scored only 29 baskets in the conventional two-point fashion. In other words, 243 of their combined 330 points on the season, or 74 percent of their points scored, have come from beyond the three- point arc.
CLIMBING THE CAREER LIST - Sophomore guard Cassie VanderHeyden entered the top three on the Minnesota career three-point field goals made list early this season. The 5-6 sharpshooter is third with 88 treys. Shannon Loeblein (1992-95) holds the record with 133 three point field goals. VanderHeyden's next target is Jodi Olson (1987-90), who is second all-time with 98 three-point field goals.
A LEADING LAUNCHER - Rookie long-range jumper artist Lindsay Lieser continues to leap up the Minnesota single-season three-point field goals made list. Lieser has 49 three-pointers for third place on the list. Teammate Cassie VanderHeyden owns the second-best single-season total with 56 three-pointers last season. Shannon Loeblein holds the single-season record with 63 treys in the 1994-95 season. Lieser's 42.2 three-point field goal percentage is also among the best in a season, ranking only behind Jodi Olson, who hit 43.2 percent (32-74) from long range in the 1988-89 season.
BOWDEN STEPS IT UP IN BIG TEN PLAY - Though her 8.7 points per game average ranks fourth overall for the Gophers, senior forward Moneeke Bowden (Bakersfield, Calif./South) leads the team in scoring in Big Ten games at 10.5 points per game. In addition to pulling down 7.2 rebounds a game in conference play, Bowden has made a big contribution by getting to the free throw line and converting. After shooting just 54 percent (23-43) from the line in non-conference play this season, Bowden is connecting on 73 percent (24-33) in the Gophers' six Big Ten contests.
GETTING THE JOB DONE QUIETLY - Junior center Brandy Pickens (Flint, Mich./Powers Catholic) has played the best basketball of her Gopher career, albeit very quietly, and is a top candidate for most improved player honors. Pickens leads the Gophers in rebounding during Big Ten games with a 7.3 rebound average, good for 11th in the Big Ten stats. The Gopher co-captain has also improved her scoring during conference play to 5.8 points per game, up from her season average of 3.4 points per game.
MAKING THE PLAYS - Senior Erin Olson (Mitchell, S.D./ Mitchell) ranks fifth in the Big Ten in assists, dishing out an average of 4.3 assists per game. With 69 assists and 66 turnovers on the season, she is the only Gopher with more assists than turnovers.
PATROLLING THE PAINT - Sophomore center Kim Bell (Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn) is currently in fifth place on the Minnesota career blocks list with 67. Bell's next target on the list is Carol Ann Shudlick (1991-94) with 84. At 6-7, Bell, the tallest player to ever wear a Gopher uniform, ranks second in the Big Ten, averaging 2.1 blocks per game.
Bell missed the first four games of the Big Ten season with a knee injury and returned to action against Iowa. In her first significant minutes (11) against Purdue, Bell contributed three blocks and three rebounds.
GOPHERS FALL TO DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPS - Defending national champion Purdue outscored Minnesota, 17-1, in the first nine minutes of the game and rolled to a 77-60 victory in West Lafayette, Ind., on Sunday.
The Gophers turned the ball over nine times and missed their first six shots to start the game before Cassie VanderHeyden's three-pointer at the 10:55 mark broke the scoring drought for Minnesota. After their horrific start, the Gophers rebounded to hit 8-of-12 shots in the last 11 minutes of the half, but Purdue's 53 percent field goal percentage did not allow Minnesota to get any closer than 10 points in the first half. The Boilermakers held a 42-24 lead at the half.
The teams played to a near draw in the second half as Purdue maintained its double-digit lead. Senior forward Moneeke Bowden scored 12 of her 15 points after the half as the Gophers outscored the Boilermakers, 36- 35, in the second half.
Bowden was one of three Gophers to score in double figures. VanderHeyden tallied 17 points, 12 from three- point range, to capture game scoring honors. Lindsay Lieser chipped in 14 points.
Purdue guard Katie Douglas, the Big Ten's leading scorer, averaging over 20 points a game, was held to 12 points, but the Naismith Award candidate found other ways to make her presence known on the court. Douglas dished out a career high 10 assists, pulled down nine rebounds and snagged three steals.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY - An ironic twist to the 1999-2000 Minnesota season will go down in the Gopher record books in one positive and one negative manner. During this season, the Gopher defense allowed only 42 points in a 68-42 victory over St. Louis in December, marking the fewest points allowed by the Gophers in the NCAA era. Unfortunately, the Gopher offense suffered the same fate, scoring just 30 points in the loss to Penn State, the fewest Minnesota points scored since the 1981-82 season, or the start of the NCAA era.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN - The Wildcats are 5-10 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play. Northwestern lost games to Wisconsin and Indiana in its last two outings. Forward Tami Sears leads the Wildcats with 11.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game averages.
Head coach June Olkowski is in her first season at Northwestern.
The Series - Northwestern holds a 28-10 advantage in the series. Last season, the teams split, each winning on the other's home court.
SCOUTING IUPUI - The Jaguars, members of the Mid- Continent Conference, enter the week with a 5-10 record. Forward Barb Nelson averages 12.1 points a game to top the Jaguars.
Head coach Kris Simpson sports a 53-66 in five seasons at IUPUI.
The Series - This is the first meeting between the two schools.
UP NEXT - The Gophers host Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 27, then travel to Michigan on Sunday, Jan. 30.
BIG TEN CONFERENCE STANDINGS (As of Jan. 16) Conference Overall W L Pct W L Pct Penn State 6 0 1.000 15 2 .882 Illinois 4 1 .800 14 5 .737 Michigan 3 1 .750 11 4 .733 Michigan State 3 2 .600 12 4 .750 Purdue 2 3 .400 10 5 .667 Ohio State 2 3 .400 9 6 .600 Wisconsin 2 3 .400 8 6 .571 Northwestern 2 3 .400 5 10 .333 Indiana 2 4 .333 7 10 .412 Iowa 2 4 .333 5 10 .333 Minnesota 1 5 .167 7 9 .438 This Week in the Big Ten - Mon., Jan. 17 Michigan at Illinois Thurs., Jan. 20 Ohio State at Penn State Illinois at Purdue Michigan at Wisconsin Michigan State at Iowa Northwestern at Minnesota Sun., Jan. 23 Penn State at Michigan State Illinois at Northwestern Iowa at Michigan Purdue at Indiana Ohio State at Wisconsin IUPUI at Minnesota (nc) Last Week in the Big Ten - (Home teams in CAPS) Mon., Jan. 10 Penn State 82, MINNESOTA 30 Wed., Jan. 12 Wisconsin 74, NORTHWESTERN 60 Thurs., Jan. 13 PENN STATE 78, Illinois 66 MICHIGAN STATE 78, Indiana 58 IOWA 80, Minnesota 51 OHIO STATE 53, Purdue 51 Sun., Jan. 16 INDIANA 77, Northwestern 53 Penn State 78, IOWA 64 PURDUE 77, Minnesota 60 Wisconsin 80, OHIO STATE 45
