University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Penn State on New Year's Day
12/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Game 13
Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4, 0-1)
vs.
Penn State Lady Lions (6-6, 1-1)
LOCATION Williams Arena (14,625) - Minneapolis, Minn..
DATE / TIME: Thursday, Jan. 1 / 2 p.m.
TELEVISION: None
RADIO / WEBCAST: WCCO 830 AM / Gopher Radio Network / gophersports.com
Corbu Stathes (Play-by-play), Lynnette Sjoquist (Color Analyst)
Golden Gopher Watch List Jan. 1, 2009
Golden Gophers Return Home to Host Penn State - Minnesota plays host to Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 1, in the Golden Gophers’ Big Ten home opener. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. The Gophers are looking to shake free of a three-game losing streak, including a 62-52 loss at Wisconsin on Monday to open the Big Ten season.
Moment of Silence to Honor Tadich - A moment of silence will be observed prior to the Penn State game on Thursday in remembrance of Gopher alum Molly Tadich, who passed away suddenly in December.
Traffic Advisory for Thursday - Golden Gopher fans may wish to get an early start to the game on Thursday. Traffic around Williams Arena will be congested due to a two-lane closure on University Avenue, as well as, having a Gopher wrestling match (vs. Oklahoma State) begin in the Sports Pavilion at the same time (2 p.m.) as the basketball game in Williams Arena.
Tipping Off the New Year - Minnesota will play on New Year’s Day for just the second time in Golden Gopher women’s basketball history.
Gophers Host Penn State in New Year’s Day Tilt
Minnesota plays host to Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 1, in the Golden Gophers’ Big Ten home opener. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. The Gophers are looking to shake free of a three-game losing streak, including a 62-52 loss at Wisconsin on Monday to open the Big Ten season. Minnesota owns a 8-4 record, 0-1 in league play. Penn State evened its Conference record at 1-1, and 6-6 overall, with a 54-51 home victory over Illinois last Sunday.
Moment of Silence For Molly Tadich
Thursday’s game is the first time we have gathered in Williams Arena to play a game of basketball since the Golden Gopher family lost one of their own in alum Molly Tadich. Tadich, who starred for Minnesota from 1983-87, passed away suddenly on Dec. 13 at the age of 43. Tadiich scored 1,706 points in her Gopher career and still ranks sixth on the all-time scoring list. She earned All-Big Ten second team honors as a senior and was later inducted into the Gopher Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. Tadich worked at Oak Grove School as a special educational teacher. The entire Gopher family sends our deepest condolences to the Tadich family.
Happy New Year!
New Year’s Day used to be reserved for bowl games. Not any more. The Golden Gophers will face the Lady Lions to kick off the New Year in Williams Arena. Minnesota has played just one other time on New Year’s Day, on Jan. 1, 2004 when the Gophers defeated Michigan by a 64-44 tally in The Barn. Needless to say, Minnesota enjoyed just the ride the rest of that season.
A Streak to be Broken
Minnesota looks to break a three-game losing streak against Penn State after dropping decisions to South Dakota State, Iowa State and Wisconsin in its last three ballgames. The Gophers have lost four games in succession twice during Pam Borton’s coaching tenure - once in 2005-06 and again in 2006-07. Last season, the Gophers never lost more than two games in a row.
A Break From the Books
Minnesota plays the third of eight games between the Fall and Spring semesters on Thursday versus Penn State. Classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Big Ten Starts With a Bang
Minnesota has three games, two on the road, as the Gophers kick off the first week of the Big Ten Conference season. The Gophers traveled to Wisconsin on Monday, Dec. 29, then host Penn State on Thursday, Jan. 1, before traveling to Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 3.
Not Close to Being Close
Interestingly enough, the outcomes all 12 of the Golden Gopher games, eight wins and three losses, have all come by double-digit margins. Minnesota’s 10-point loss to South Dakota State (55-65) and at Wisconsin (62-52) are the “closest” results of the season. The “closest” Gopher win was a 12-point margin, 68-56 over North Dakota State.
Hoping the Lid is Off the Basket
Through nine games of the season, Minnesota was one of the highest scoring teams in the Big Ten averaging 77.4 points per game. The Gophers’ offensive has struggled in the last three games scoring a combined 97 points for an average of 49.7 points a game. The cold spell has lowered Minnesota’s season average to 70.5 points an outing.
Voigt One of Four Big Ten Rookie Starters
Minnesota forward Jackie Voigt is one of four true freshmen in the Big Ten to earn a spot in the starting lineup of their respective teams for the opening games of the Conference season. Voigt scored six points (2-for-2 from three-point range) with three rebounds and three assists and a steal versus Wisconsin in the first Big Ten game of her career. The 6-1 forward has started all 12 games for the Gophers this season. Other rookie starters around the Big Ten are: Fabiola Josil (Illinois, guard), Brittany Orban (Northwestern, forward) and Samantha Prahalis (Ohio State, guard).
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). Ohm has 10 more three-point field goals made than her nearest Big Ten competitor.
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 1,200 career points. Looking ahead, Fox’s next target on the list in 10th place is Ellen Kramer (1987-91) with 1,336 points.
It Starts With the Defense
Minnesota has used its pressure defense to force opponents into an average of 21.4 turnovers a game. In six games this season, the Gophers have snagged 10 or more steals.
Extra Opportunities
A team can win some games if they enjoy continuous success in this statistic - turnover margin. Minnesota with a ratio of +5.08 owns a ratio of nearly twice that of its nearest Big Ten rival - Indiana at +2.64. In easy terms, Minnesota’s defense is giving its offense extra possessions to the tune of over five a game.
The Minnesota / Penn State Series
Penn State has owned the series versus Minnesota; in fact, the Gophers have only won seven (20-7) games total against the Lady Lions. Two of those wins came last season as Minnesota pulled off its first-ever season series sweep over Penn State. The Gophers won 67-60 in Williams Arena and then won at Penn State for the very first time 56-48 on Valentine’s Day.
