University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Travel to Iowa State on Sunday
12/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game 11
Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-2)
vs.
Iowa State Cyclones (7-2)
LOCATION Hilton Coliseum (14,625) - Ames, Iowa.
DATE / TIME: Sunday, Dec. 21 / 2:30 p.m.
TELEVISION: Ames Area - Mediacom
RADIO / WEBCAST: KBEM 88.5 FM / Gopher Radio Network / gophersports.com
Corbu Stathes (Play-by-play), Lynnette Sjoquist (Color Analyst)
Golden Gopher Watch List Dec. 21, 2008
Golden Gophers Travel to Iowa State on Sunday - Minnesota travels to Iowa State on Sunday, Dec. 21, for the Golden Gophers’ final non-conference game of the season. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.
The Final Tune-Up - Minnesota battles a tough Big 12 Conference opponent in Iowa State for the Gophers’ final tune-up for Big Ten play, which starts Dec. 29 at Wisconsin. Big Ten action actually gets underway on Sunday with Michigan at Ohio State and Michigan State at Penn State.
Holiday Schedule - The Gophers will have four days off (Dec. 22-25), before returning to practice on Friday, Dec. 26, to prepare for the Big Ten opener at Wisconsin on Monday, Dec. 29.
A Break From the Books - Minnesota plays the first of eight games between the fall and spring semesters on Sunday versus Iowa State. Classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Gophers Travel To Iowa State For Final Tune-Up
Minnesota travels to Iowa State on Sunday, Dec. 21, for the Golden Gophers’ final non-conference game of the season. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Gophers are 8-2 coming off a 12-day break for final exams. The Cyclones are 7-2.
The Gophers’ Holiday Schedule
The Gophers will have four days off (Dec. 22-25), before returning to practice on Friday, Dec. 26, to prepare for the Big Ten opener at Wisconsin on Monday, Dec. 29.
A Break From the Books
Minnesota plays the first of eight games between the fall and spring semesters on Sunday versus Iowa State. Classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Big Ten Starts WIth a Bang
Minnesota has three games, two on the road, as the Gophers look ahead to kicking off the Big Ten Conference season. The Gophers travel to Wisconsin on Monday, Dec. 29, then host Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 1, before traveling to Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Gophers/Cyclones Continue Series
This is one of those games that just makes sense on the non-conference schedule for both Minnesota and Iowa State. The Iowa State/Minnesota game is the 17th of the series between the two schools about a three-hour drive apart on Interstate 35. Not only is Iowa State the closest NCAA Division I school to Minnesota, the Cyclones also offer a great contest between th Big 12 Conference and the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota won the meeting in Minneapolis last season and owns a 9-6 advantage in the series.
Aiming to Break a Losing Streak in Ames
Minnesota might hold the overall series lead versus Iowa State, but like the Gophers playing in Williams Arena, the Cyclones are one tough team to beat on their home court in the Hilton Colesium. The Gophers are just 2-5 in Ames and have lost the last four times they made the bus trip down Interstate 35 to face the Cyclones. One has to go way back to Jan. 17, 1980, when Minnesota last won in Ames (88-49).
Emmy Continues Climb Up Scoring Chart
Emily Fox started her season in 13th on the Minnesota all-time leading scorers list and is currently 11th with 1,179 career points. Looking ahead, Fox’s next target on the list in 10th place is Ellen Kramer (1987-91) with 1,336 points.
Ohm Firing on Record Pace From Long Range
Katie Ohm has been sensational from behind the arc this season. Her 36 three-point field goals in on record pace to set Minnesota’s single-season record of 73 (Lindsay Lieser, 2001-02; and Shannon Schonrock, 2004-05). Amazing, Ohm’s 36 treys is more than two Big Ten teams have scored (Illinois, 34 and Indiana, 33) and more than twice the number of every Conference player but four players (Carly Benson, Michigan, 23; Brittany Rayburn, Purdue, 19; Jodi Howell, Purdue, 19; and Alyssa Karel, Wisconsin, 19).
It Starts With the Defense
Minnesota has used its pressure defense to force opponents into an average of 22.2 turnovers a game. In six games this season, the Gophers have snagged 10 or more steals to lead the Big Ten with an average of 10.70 steals per game.
Extra Opportunities
A team can win a lot of games if they enjoy continuous success in this statistic - turnover margin. Minnesota at a +6.60 owns a ratio of over twice that of its nearest Big Ten rival - Penn State at +2.50. In easy terms, Minnesota’s defense is giving its offense extra possessions to the tune of over six a game.
Coaches Love This One
Minnesota’s starting backcourt of Emily Fox and Brittany McCoy ranked first and second in the Big Ten statistics in a very important, but under-appreciated stat of assist-to-turnover ratio. Fox has over twice the number of assists (44) this season to turnovers (21) for an impressive 2.10 assist/turnover ratio. McCoy checks in a 1.86 with 54 assists and 29 turnovers. The duo was spectacular versus Boston College, combining for 13 assists without a single turnover. Due to Fox and McCoy, Minnesota leads the Big Ten as a team in this statistic with a ratio of 0.99.
On Any Giving Night...
Minnesota has enjoyed a great deal of balance in the scoring column this season. The Gophers landed four players in double digits versus Boston College, marking the fourth time this season that four or more players contributed double-figures performances. A closer look at the Boston College game one realizes an unusual result of balance. Minnesota’s then-leading scorer Emily Fox tallied only eight points to finish as the only starter out of double figures.
Halfway There
Brittany McCoy is over halfway to adding the 2008-09 as her third consecutive season with 100 or more assists. Ten games into the season, McCoy has 54 assists averaging 5.4 dishes a game. The Gopher junior is already the only player in school history to dish out 100 or more assists as both a freshman and sophomore. McCoy’s 290 career assists currently stands seventh in Minnesota history.
Experience Paying Dividends
Two years ago, Minnesota put the second youngest squad in the nation on the court. In 2008-09, the Gophers have a trio of three-year starters in Emily Fox, Brittany McCoy and Ashley Ellis-Milan. McCoy has started every one of her 75 career games at Minnesota. To date, the Gophers’ starting lineup, which does include a true freshman in Jackie Voigt, boasts 256 games of starting experience.
Scoring Balance Coming in Bunches
Minnesota has enjoyed a lot of balance in the scoring column so far this season. Eight of the 11 active players on the Minnesota roster have scored in double figures this season. Only three freshmen, redshirt Kristen Dockery, Brianna Mastey and Nicole Mastey have yet to reach double figures in a game this season.
Scouting Iowa State
Iowa State is 7-2 as been off for a week since its last game, a 75-39 win over Detroit. The Cyclones have also dropped a game to Stanford this season, dropping an 83-45 decision to the Cardinal at a Thanksgiving tourney in Hawaii. Iowa State’s other loss was at Iowa (66-46). Senior guard Heather Ezell leads Iowa State averaging 11.1 points per game, while senior forward Nicky Wieben is averaging 11.0 points an outing.
