University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Travel to Northwestern on Sunday
1/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-6, 4-2)
vs.
Northwestern Wildcats (11-6, 2-4)
LOCATION Welsh-Ryan Arena (8,317) / Evanston, Ill.
DATE / TIME: Sunday, Jan. 17 /2 p.m. CT
TELEVISION: none
RADIO/WEBCAST: Gopher Radio Network, KBEM (88.5 FM)
Corbu Stathes (Play-by-Play), Lynnette Sjoquist (Color Analysis)
Gophersports.com
Golden Gopher Watch List — Jan. 17, 2010
• Gophers Travels to Northwestern on Sunday - Minnesota (11-6, 4-2) travels to Evanston, Ill., on Sunday, Jan. 17, to face Northwestern at 2 p.m. in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Golden Gophers are looking for their first road victory of the season.
• Gopher Coming Off Big Victory - Minnesota is coming of a 27-point victory over Purdue on Thursday. The margin of victory matches the biggest in Gopher history against the Boilermakers. Kiara Buford led three Gophers in double figures with 18 points.
• Antoine Playing Big in Starting Role - Junior China Antoine continues to play extremely well as a member of the Gophers’ starting lineup. Since being added to the starting lineup six games ago, Antoine has averaged 14.3 points a game. She is tied for first in the Big Ten with 2.5 three-pointers made per Conference game.
• Ellis-Milan’s Starts Streak - Brittany McCoy owns the record but Ashley Ellis-Milan isn’t far behind. Ellis-Milan will start her 112th game on Sunday, a total that would have been a record if not for her teammate.
Gophers Back on the Road
Just seven games into the Big Ten Conference season, Minnesota will already complete its second home-and-home of the season when the Golden Gophers travel to Northwestern on Sunday, Jan. 17. Minnesota and Northwestern own identical 11-6 overall records. The Gophers, however, have fared better in BIg Ten play, coming in with a 4-2 mark, while the Wildcats are 2-4.
Just About Basketball For a While
The Gophers will play two more games on winter break before the players return to classes on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Since the last day of final in the 2009 fall semester, the Gophers have compiled a 3-2 mark.
Pam Borton Radio on Monday
The Pam Borton Radio Show heard locally on WCCO Radio (830 am) is broadcast live on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at Applebee’s in Stadium Village. Golden Gopher radio personalities Corbu Stathes and Lynnette Sjoquist host the program. The next show is Monday, Jan. 18.
Get Out Your Dictionary for This One
The Gophers ended up on the good end of a palindrome in the game versus Purdue. Palindrome? That would be the score, a symmetrical 74-47 final. The oficial definition of a palindrome is a word, phrase, number or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction. Another example of a palindrome was the numerical date on Jan. 2...01-02-2010.
The last palindrone score in Minnesota history was a 57-75 loss at Ohio State on Feb. 12, 2004. Gopher fans might remember that game with a painful cringe. That was the game in which LIndsay Whalen broke her hand during her senior season.
Matching the Biggest Win Ever over Purdue
The Gophers’ 27-point margin of victory on Thursday matched the largest win over Purdue in Minnesota history. Twenty-seven (27) years ago, the Gophers captured a 115-88 win over the Boilermakers. To this day, the 115 points scored by the Gophers remains the most points scored against Purdue.
Have the Gophers Turned the Corner?
Minnesota is 3-1 in its last four games. Throwing the stats from those four games together, leading one to hopefully consider if the Gophers have turned the corner and are aiming toward consistency. Balance is obvious in these four-game stats. All five starters averaged between Kiara Buford at 15.8 points a game and Jackie Voigt at 9.2 points a contest. The Gophers have averaged 70.2 per game during stretch while allowing an average of 61.2. The Gophers have used defense and rebounding to garner extra possessions. In the last four games, Minnesota has grabbed 44 steals while forcing opponents into 91 turnovers. The Gophers have also outrebounded their foes by a 142-122 margin or 5.0 rebounds a game, a difference entirely on the offensive end.
Stealing the Attention
All three starters on the Gopher perimeter are ranked among the top 10 in the Big Ten in steals resulting in Minnesota holding the top spot for team steals. Kiara Buford and China Antoine are tied for third in the Conference with 2.5 steals per league game. Brittany McCoy is tied for ninth with an average of 2.0 steals a game. The Gophers at 10.65 steals per game are the only team in the Big Ten in double digits for steals per game.
China Continues to Impress
China Antoine first made the adjustment from junior college to Division I basketball. Antoine is now busy making a statement with her play as a Golden Gopher starter. With six games as a starting guard, Antoine is averaging 14.3 points a game and hitting 2.8 three-pointers a game. She has posted double figures in five of the six games with a high of 17 points versus Purdue. Antoine contributed 16 against Illinois and Purdue.
A Deserving Nod to Ashley as Well
If not for the consecutive starting streak of Brittany McCoy (114), Ashley Ellis-Milan would be setting the record with her 112th consecutive start on Sunday when the Gophers face Northwestern. Ellis-Milan earned a starting berth in her fourth career game and has been a part of the Gophers’ starting five ever since.
A Top Newcomer in the Big Ten
Junior college transfer China Antoine is certainly gaining notice around the Big Ten as one of the top newcomers in the league this season. Antoine has nailed three or more three-pointers in five of the last seven games, topped by four triples versus Iowa and Illinois. She is tied for the lead in Big Ten play making 2.5 three-pointers a game, while ranking fourth in three-point percentage a 44.1 percent. On the season, Antoine has hit two or more three-pointers in 11 of the Gophers’ 17 outings.
It’s a Tough Road to Travel
How often have you heard coaches speak about defending one’s home court and trying to steal a few wins on the road? The 2009-10 Big Ten season stacks up exactly that way. The traveling teams have a 29.4 percent winning percentage on the road this season with road teams winning just 10 games in 34 tries. Ohio State is 3-0 on the road. Minnesota is one of four teams (Illinois, Purdue, Iowa) which has yet to win on the road this season.
Doing it with Defense
Minnesota must rely on its defense, game in and game out, to be a steady force in the Gopher game plan. The Gopher “D” has responded by giving up an average of 58.1 points per game. Minnesota has held teams to less than 50 points five games this season. Pressure defense has caused opponents into an average of 20.9 turnovers a game with an average of 10.6 of those turnovers as a result of Gopher steals.
One Point at a Time is a Good Thing for Gophers
A key to the Golden Gophers’ offense is getting to the free throw line. In 11 wins this season, the Gophers attempted an average of 24.4 per game. In comparison, Minnesota has attempted a total of just 98 free throws, an average of 16.3 attempts, in its six losses.
Another Way to Look at it
Minnesota has made more free throws (276) and its opponents have attempts (258).
Brittany McCoy Building on Starts Record
Senior Brittany McCoy made her 114th career start of her Gopher career in the game versus Purdue adding to her Minnesota record for consecutive start. She first set the record on Jan. 7 versus Northwestern. McCoy has started every game of her high school and college basketball career. McCoy passed Lindsay Whalen (2001-04), who started 111 straight during her Gopher career, to establish the new mark.
The next record on the horizon is the career record for games started which is 126 and has been held for 20 years by Linda Roberts (1978-81). McCoy would hit that milestone in the Big Ten Tournament if things go as planned.
McCoy also has the chance to become the Gophers’ first player to start every game during a four-year career.
Home Early, on the Road Late
The Golden Gophers will play seven of its first 11 Big Ten games at home in The Barn, but will then be challenged with a brutal stretch with five of their last seven Conference games on the road. Minnesota will see Wisconsin (at home) and Indiana (in Bloomington) once this season.
Never too Early to Debate the Issue
Ohio State already has a two-game lead over everyone in the Big Ten standings except Minnesota, where the Buckeyes have a one-game edge. With an 18-game schedule, each team will play two schools only once in the Conference season. That would lead one to contend that Iowa and Penn State, who play Ohio State, just once during the Big Ten season might have an advantage. Here is the list of “one-and-dones” for 2009-10.
Illinois – Michigan (H), Michigan State (A)
Indiana – Minnesota (H), Purdue (A)
Iowa – Michigan State (H), Ohio State (A)
Michigan – Illinois (A), Purdue (H)
Michigan State – Iowa (A), Illinois (H)
Minnesota – Wisconsin (H), Indiana (A)
Northwestern – Penn State (H), Wisconsin (A)
Ohio State – Iowa (H), Penn State (A)
Penn State – Ohio State (H), Northwestern (A)
Purdue – Indiana (H), Michigan (A)
WIsconsin – Minnesota (A), Northwestern (H)
Third and Last Season with 18 Big Ten Games
The Big Ten adopted an 18-game Conference schedule going into the 2007-08 season and after the 2009-10 season, the third with 18 games, the league will return to the 16-game format.
Scouting Northwestern
Northwestern is easily the most improved team in the Big Ten Conference this season. Coming off a 7-23 season in 2008-09, second-year head coach Joe McKeown has the Wildcats off to an 11-6 record this season. The Wildcats, however, have found life in the Big Ten difficult and have lost four straight. Junior center Amy Jaeschke leads the Wildcats averaging 15.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Brittany Orban checks in at 10.6 points a game.
The Minnesota / Northwestern Series
Northwestern leads the series with Minnesota by a 30-27 margin. The Gophers had their 16-game winning streak, the longest winning streak against a Big Ten opponent in school history, broken in the last meeting in Evanston.
vs.
Northwestern Wildcats (11-6, 2-4)
LOCATION Welsh-Ryan Arena (8,317) / Evanston, Ill.
DATE / TIME: Sunday, Jan. 17 /2 p.m. CT
TELEVISION: none
RADIO/WEBCAST: Gopher Radio Network, KBEM (88.5 FM)
Corbu Stathes (Play-by-Play), Lynnette Sjoquist (Color Analysis)
Gophersports.com
Golden Gopher Watch List — Jan. 17, 2010
• Gophers Travels to Northwestern on Sunday - Minnesota (11-6, 4-2) travels to Evanston, Ill., on Sunday, Jan. 17, to face Northwestern at 2 p.m. in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Golden Gophers are looking for their first road victory of the season.
• Gopher Coming Off Big Victory - Minnesota is coming of a 27-point victory over Purdue on Thursday. The margin of victory matches the biggest in Gopher history against the Boilermakers. Kiara Buford led three Gophers in double figures with 18 points.
• Antoine Playing Big in Starting Role - Junior China Antoine continues to play extremely well as a member of the Gophers’ starting lineup. Since being added to the starting lineup six games ago, Antoine has averaged 14.3 points a game. She is tied for first in the Big Ten with 2.5 three-pointers made per Conference game.
• Ellis-Milan’s Starts Streak - Brittany McCoy owns the record but Ashley Ellis-Milan isn’t far behind. Ellis-Milan will start her 112th game on Sunday, a total that would have been a record if not for her teammate.
Gophers Back on the Road
Just seven games into the Big Ten Conference season, Minnesota will already complete its second home-and-home of the season when the Golden Gophers travel to Northwestern on Sunday, Jan. 17. Minnesota and Northwestern own identical 11-6 overall records. The Gophers, however, have fared better in BIg Ten play, coming in with a 4-2 mark, while the Wildcats are 2-4.
Just About Basketball For a While
The Gophers will play two more games on winter break before the players return to classes on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Since the last day of final in the 2009 fall semester, the Gophers have compiled a 3-2 mark.
Pam Borton Radio on Monday
The Pam Borton Radio Show heard locally on WCCO Radio (830 am) is broadcast live on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at Applebee’s in Stadium Village. Golden Gopher radio personalities Corbu Stathes and Lynnette Sjoquist host the program. The next show is Monday, Jan. 18.
Get Out Your Dictionary for This One
The Gophers ended up on the good end of a palindrome in the game versus Purdue. Palindrome? That would be the score, a symmetrical 74-47 final. The oficial definition of a palindrome is a word, phrase, number or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction. Another example of a palindrome was the numerical date on Jan. 2...01-02-2010.
The last palindrone score in Minnesota history was a 57-75 loss at Ohio State on Feb. 12, 2004. Gopher fans might remember that game with a painful cringe. That was the game in which LIndsay Whalen broke her hand during her senior season.
Matching the Biggest Win Ever over Purdue
The Gophers’ 27-point margin of victory on Thursday matched the largest win over Purdue in Minnesota history. Twenty-seven (27) years ago, the Gophers captured a 115-88 win over the Boilermakers. To this day, the 115 points scored by the Gophers remains the most points scored against Purdue.
Have the Gophers Turned the Corner?
Minnesota is 3-1 in its last four games. Throwing the stats from those four games together, leading one to hopefully consider if the Gophers have turned the corner and are aiming toward consistency. Balance is obvious in these four-game stats. All five starters averaged between Kiara Buford at 15.8 points a game and Jackie Voigt at 9.2 points a contest. The Gophers have averaged 70.2 per game during stretch while allowing an average of 61.2. The Gophers have used defense and rebounding to garner extra possessions. In the last four games, Minnesota has grabbed 44 steals while forcing opponents into 91 turnovers. The Gophers have also outrebounded their foes by a 142-122 margin or 5.0 rebounds a game, a difference entirely on the offensive end.
Stealing the Attention
All three starters on the Gopher perimeter are ranked among the top 10 in the Big Ten in steals resulting in Minnesota holding the top spot for team steals. Kiara Buford and China Antoine are tied for third in the Conference with 2.5 steals per league game. Brittany McCoy is tied for ninth with an average of 2.0 steals a game. The Gophers at 10.65 steals per game are the only team in the Big Ten in double digits for steals per game.
China Continues to Impress
China Antoine first made the adjustment from junior college to Division I basketball. Antoine is now busy making a statement with her play as a Golden Gopher starter. With six games as a starting guard, Antoine is averaging 14.3 points a game and hitting 2.8 three-pointers a game. She has posted double figures in five of the six games with a high of 17 points versus Purdue. Antoine contributed 16 against Illinois and Purdue.
A Deserving Nod to Ashley as Well
If not for the consecutive starting streak of Brittany McCoy (114), Ashley Ellis-Milan would be setting the record with her 112th consecutive start on Sunday when the Gophers face Northwestern. Ellis-Milan earned a starting berth in her fourth career game and has been a part of the Gophers’ starting five ever since.
A Top Newcomer in the Big Ten
Junior college transfer China Antoine is certainly gaining notice around the Big Ten as one of the top newcomers in the league this season. Antoine has nailed three or more three-pointers in five of the last seven games, topped by four triples versus Iowa and Illinois. She is tied for the lead in Big Ten play making 2.5 three-pointers a game, while ranking fourth in three-point percentage a 44.1 percent. On the season, Antoine has hit two or more three-pointers in 11 of the Gophers’ 17 outings.
It’s a Tough Road to Travel
How often have you heard coaches speak about defending one’s home court and trying to steal a few wins on the road? The 2009-10 Big Ten season stacks up exactly that way. The traveling teams have a 29.4 percent winning percentage on the road this season with road teams winning just 10 games in 34 tries. Ohio State is 3-0 on the road. Minnesota is one of four teams (Illinois, Purdue, Iowa) which has yet to win on the road this season.
Doing it with Defense
Minnesota must rely on its defense, game in and game out, to be a steady force in the Gopher game plan. The Gopher “D” has responded by giving up an average of 58.1 points per game. Minnesota has held teams to less than 50 points five games this season. Pressure defense has caused opponents into an average of 20.9 turnovers a game with an average of 10.6 of those turnovers as a result of Gopher steals.
One Point at a Time is a Good Thing for Gophers
A key to the Golden Gophers’ offense is getting to the free throw line. In 11 wins this season, the Gophers attempted an average of 24.4 per game. In comparison, Minnesota has attempted a total of just 98 free throws, an average of 16.3 attempts, in its six losses.
Another Way to Look at it
Minnesota has made more free throws (276) and its opponents have attempts (258).
Brittany McCoy Building on Starts Record
Senior Brittany McCoy made her 114th career start of her Gopher career in the game versus Purdue adding to her Minnesota record for consecutive start. She first set the record on Jan. 7 versus Northwestern. McCoy has started every game of her high school and college basketball career. McCoy passed Lindsay Whalen (2001-04), who started 111 straight during her Gopher career, to establish the new mark.
The next record on the horizon is the career record for games started which is 126 and has been held for 20 years by Linda Roberts (1978-81). McCoy would hit that milestone in the Big Ten Tournament if things go as planned.
McCoy also has the chance to become the Gophers’ first player to start every game during a four-year career.
Home Early, on the Road Late
The Golden Gophers will play seven of its first 11 Big Ten games at home in The Barn, but will then be challenged with a brutal stretch with five of their last seven Conference games on the road. Minnesota will see Wisconsin (at home) and Indiana (in Bloomington) once this season.
Never too Early to Debate the Issue
Ohio State already has a two-game lead over everyone in the Big Ten standings except Minnesota, where the Buckeyes have a one-game edge. With an 18-game schedule, each team will play two schools only once in the Conference season. That would lead one to contend that Iowa and Penn State, who play Ohio State, just once during the Big Ten season might have an advantage. Here is the list of “one-and-dones” for 2009-10.
Illinois – Michigan (H), Michigan State (A)
Indiana – Minnesota (H), Purdue (A)
Iowa – Michigan State (H), Ohio State (A)
Michigan – Illinois (A), Purdue (H)
Michigan State – Iowa (A), Illinois (H)
Minnesota – Wisconsin (H), Indiana (A)
Northwestern – Penn State (H), Wisconsin (A)
Ohio State – Iowa (H), Penn State (A)
Penn State – Ohio State (H), Northwestern (A)
Purdue – Indiana (H), Michigan (A)
WIsconsin – Minnesota (A), Northwestern (H)
Third and Last Season with 18 Big Ten Games
The Big Ten adopted an 18-game Conference schedule going into the 2007-08 season and after the 2009-10 season, the third with 18 games, the league will return to the 16-game format.
Scouting Northwestern
Northwestern is easily the most improved team in the Big Ten Conference this season. Coming off a 7-23 season in 2008-09, second-year head coach Joe McKeown has the Wildcats off to an 11-6 record this season. The Wildcats, however, have found life in the Big Ten difficult and have lost four straight. Junior center Amy Jaeschke leads the Wildcats averaging 15.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Brittany Orban checks in at 10.6 points a game.
The Minnesota / Northwestern Series
Northwestern leads the series with Minnesota by a 30-27 margin. The Gophers had their 16-game winning streak, the longest winning streak against a Big Ten opponent in school history, broken in the last meeting in Evanston.
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