University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Northwestern on Thursday
1/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota Golden Gophers (9-5, 2-1)
vs.
Northwestern Wildcats (11-4, 2-2)
LOCATION Williams Arena (14,625) / Minneapolis, Minn.
DATE / TIME: Thursday, Jan. 7 / 7 p.m. CT
TELEVISION: none
RADIO/WEBCAST: Gopher Radio Network, WCCO 830 AM
Corbu Stathes (Play-by-Play), Lynnette Sjoquist (Color Analysis)
Gophersports.com
Golden Gopher Watch List — Jan. 7, 2010
• Gophers Host Northwestern on Thursday - Minnesota (9-5, 2-1) plays host to Northwestern on Thursday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. in Williams Arena. The Golden Gophers are coming off a 72-69 overtime victory over Iowa.
• McCoy to Set Consecutive Starts Record - Senior Brittany McCoy will break Lindsay Whalen’s Minnesota record for consecutive starts at 112 straight on Thursday versus Northwestern. McCoy has started every game of her Gopher career. There has never been a player to start every game in a four-year career.
• Antoine Makes Plays in the Starting Five - Junior China Antoine has made quite the impact in her first three starts of her Golden Gopher career. Antoine is averaging 15.6 points per game as a starter, scoring in double figures in every game and posting a career-high 17 points at Purdue.
• Just Another Close One Against Iowa - Minnesota has played an overtime game with Iowa in three of the last four seasons.
Gophers Host Northwestern
Minnesota plays its second consecutive home game on Thursday, Jan. 7, when the Golden Gophers play host to Northwestern. The Gophers are 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten after a 72-69 overtime win over Iowa last Sunday. The Wildcats own a record of 11-4 and 2-2 in Big Ten action.
Just About Basketball For a While
The Gophers will play five more games on winter break before the players return to classes on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
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. 11.
Brittany McCoy Ties Record
Senior Brittany McCoy made her 111th career start of her Gopher career in the game versus Iowa and to tie the Minnesota record for consecutive starts. McCoy has started every game of her high school and college basketball career. McCoy now shares the Minnesota record for consecutive starts is held by Lindsay Whalen (2001-04), who started 111 straight during her Gopher career. McCoy has the chance to become the first player to start every game during a four-year career.
Antoine Making Most of Starting Assignment
Being in the starting lineup seems to have lit a fire in China Antoine. She has scored in double figures in each of her three in the starting lineup, first with 15 points versus Santa Clara, a career-high 17 points against Purdue, then 15 versus Iowa. In each of those games she netted at least a trio of three-point field goals. Antoine has now hit three triples in five games this season and two or more three-pointers in nine of the Gophers’ 14 outings.
Overtime Win
Minnesota is now 19-8 in overtime games in Gopher history. Iowa has been a popular opponent in recent overtime games. The Gophers and Hawkeyes have played extra sessions of basketball in games during three of the last four seasons. The game at Iowa in 2007, in fact, was the last overtime game the Gophers had won until Sunday.
Another Double-Double for Buford
Kiara Buford contributed a double-double to the win over Iowa with 21 points and 10 rebounds. It was her second double-double of the season. She also added two blocked shots, three assists and four steals to the win. Buford’s first double-double was the season opener versus Lamar with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
McCoy Assists in the Victory
Brittany McCoy played one of her better games of the season in the win over Iowa. McCoy finished with a season-best 14 points with seven assists. Overall, McCoy has 58 assists on the season or in another way to look at it, has assisted on 24 percent of the Gophers’ points this season.
Talk About Intense
That would be how you could sum up the Gophers’ defensive performance late in the game versus Iowa. The Hawkeyes managed just nine points over the last 13-plus minutes of the game, including seven points in the overtime, on Sunday. In the last 8:28 of regulation, Iowa went 0-for-9 from the field with five turnovers.
It Took 30 Seconds of Great Defense
Minnesota’s defense forced Iowa to be whistled for three 30-second shot clock violations in the later stages of the Gophers’ win on Sunday. Two of those violations came at crucial possessions during the overtime period.
Defending the Home Court in The Barn
Williams Arena is one of the toughest places to play in the nation for opposing teams. During Pam Borton’s coaching tenure, the Golden Gophers have compiled an impressive 90-20 (82%) record in their home games. Minnesota is 8-1 in the Barn 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 57.1 points per game. Minnesota has held teams to less than 50 points four games this season. Pressure defense has caused opponents into an average of 20.4 turnovers a game with an average of 10.5 of those turnovers as a result of Gopher steals.
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.
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.
Productive Minutes for Harper
Zoe Harper continued to be a solid source of relief in the post for the Gophers and has a knack for making the most of her minutes played. In the win over Santa Clara, Harper scored a season-high 11 points and grabbed six rebounds, all on the offensive end, in just 15 minutes of action. Versus Purdue, limited by foul trouble, Harper played only 11 minutes but scored six points and corralled seven rebounds. On the season, Harper is averaging 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 14.1 minutes of play.
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 nine wins this season, the Gophers attempted an average of 25.6 per game. In comparison, Minnesota has attempted a total of just 80 free throws, an average of 16.0 attempts, in its five losses.
So Good to be Home
The Golden Gophers are more than happy to be playing at home in The Barn. The stats comparing Minnesota’s games at home compared to on opponents’ home courts are staggering. Minnesota is averaging 76.4 points per game at home while shooting a decent 41.8 percent. In the three true road games this season (Utah, Maryland and Purdue), the Gophers have struggled mightily scoring just an average of 49.0 points and shooting just 29.5 percent. The fewest points the Gophers have scored at home this season was 60 in the loss to Iowa State, while they have bettered the 80-point mark four times.
McCoy Moves up to No. 3 Spot in Career Assists
Senior Brittany McCoy has 425 assists in her Gopher career to pass Emily Fox (414, 2005-09) and into third on the Gophers’ all-time assists list. She collected her 200th career steal in the game versus Penn State and has 211.
Sharing the Honors
Five different Golden Gopher have earned game scoring honors this season (Ashley Ellis-Milan, Kiara Buford, Leah Cotton, Jackie Voigt and China Antoine). Buford have led the Gophers in scoring seven times this season. Antoine joined the list in the Gophers’ last outing at Purdue.
Ellis-Milan Joins McCoy with Triple-Digit Starts
Ashley Ellis-Milan started her 100th game as a Golden Gopher in the TCU game and now has a consecutive starting streak of 108 straight games. Earlier this season, Brittany McCoy proceeded Ellis-Milan in triple digits for career starts.
Ellis-Milan Moving On Up and Quickly
Ashley Ellis-Milan has already moved up six spots on the Minnesota all-time scoring list since joining the 1,000 career points club in the season-opener versus Lamar. She is now No. 13 with 1,144 career points. Ellis-Milan’s cousin Linda Roberts (1977-81) ranks No. 4 in Gopher scoring history with 1.856 points.
Ellis-Milan is also working her way up the career rebounds list. She is currently No. 6 on the list with 773 career rebounds.
Voigt Playing Bigger Role
Jackie Voigt had a string of seven straight games scoring in double figures snapped versus Iowa State. Voigt tallied only three double-figure scoring games last season. In her second season as a Gopher starter at forward, Voigt is averaging 9.2 points per game and has earned team game scoring honors two times.
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 impressive 11-4 start this season. The Wildcats, however, have lost their last two Big Ten games at home to Ohio State and Penn State Junior center Amy Jaeschke leads the Wildcats averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Brittany Orban checks in at 10.7 points a game.
The Minnesota / Northwestern Series
Northwestern leads the series with Minnesota by a 30-26 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 (11-4, 2-2)
LOCATION Williams Arena (14,625) / Minneapolis, Minn.
DATE / TIME: Thursday, Jan. 7 / 7 p.m. CT
TELEVISION: none
RADIO/WEBCAST: Gopher Radio Network, WCCO 830 AM
Corbu Stathes (Play-by-Play), Lynnette Sjoquist (Color Analysis)
Gophersports.com
Golden Gopher Watch List — Jan. 7, 2010
• Gophers Host Northwestern on Thursday - Minnesota (9-5, 2-1) plays host to Northwestern on Thursday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. in Williams Arena. The Golden Gophers are coming off a 72-69 overtime victory over Iowa.
• McCoy to Set Consecutive Starts Record - Senior Brittany McCoy will break Lindsay Whalen’s Minnesota record for consecutive starts at 112 straight on Thursday versus Northwestern. McCoy has started every game of her Gopher career. There has never been a player to start every game in a four-year career.
• Antoine Makes Plays in the Starting Five - Junior China Antoine has made quite the impact in her first three starts of her Golden Gopher career. Antoine is averaging 15.6 points per game as a starter, scoring in double figures in every game and posting a career-high 17 points at Purdue.
• Just Another Close One Against Iowa - Minnesota has played an overtime game with Iowa in three of the last four seasons.
Gophers Host Northwestern
Minnesota plays its second consecutive home game on Thursday, Jan. 7, when the Golden Gophers play host to Northwestern. The Gophers are 9-5 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten after a 72-69 overtime win over Iowa last Sunday. The Wildcats own a record of 11-4 and 2-2 in Big Ten action.
Just About Basketball For a While
The Gophers will play five more games on winter break before the players return to classes on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
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. 11.
Brittany McCoy Ties Record
Senior Brittany McCoy made her 111th career start of her Gopher career in the game versus Iowa and to tie the Minnesota record for consecutive starts. McCoy has started every game of her high school and college basketball career. McCoy now shares the Minnesota record for consecutive starts is held by Lindsay Whalen (2001-04), who started 111 straight during her Gopher career. McCoy has the chance to become the first player to start every game during a four-year career.
Antoine Making Most of Starting Assignment
Being in the starting lineup seems to have lit a fire in China Antoine. She has scored in double figures in each of her three in the starting lineup, first with 15 points versus Santa Clara, a career-high 17 points against Purdue, then 15 versus Iowa. In each of those games she netted at least a trio of three-point field goals. Antoine has now hit three triples in five games this season and two or more three-pointers in nine of the Gophers’ 14 outings.
Overtime Win
Minnesota is now 19-8 in overtime games in Gopher history. Iowa has been a popular opponent in recent overtime games. The Gophers and Hawkeyes have played extra sessions of basketball in games during three of the last four seasons. The game at Iowa in 2007, in fact, was the last overtime game the Gophers had won until Sunday.
Another Double-Double for Buford
Kiara Buford contributed a double-double to the win over Iowa with 21 points and 10 rebounds. It was her second double-double of the season. She also added two blocked shots, three assists and four steals to the win. Buford’s first double-double was the season opener versus Lamar with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
McCoy Assists in the Victory
Brittany McCoy played one of her better games of the season in the win over Iowa. McCoy finished with a season-best 14 points with seven assists. Overall, McCoy has 58 assists on the season or in another way to look at it, has assisted on 24 percent of the Gophers’ points this season.
Talk About Intense
That would be how you could sum up the Gophers’ defensive performance late in the game versus Iowa. The Hawkeyes managed just nine points over the last 13-plus minutes of the game, including seven points in the overtime, on Sunday. In the last 8:28 of regulation, Iowa went 0-for-9 from the field with five turnovers.
It Took 30 Seconds of Great Defense
Minnesota’s defense forced Iowa to be whistled for three 30-second shot clock violations in the later stages of the Gophers’ win on Sunday. Two of those violations came at crucial possessions during the overtime period.
Defending the Home Court in The Barn
Williams Arena is one of the toughest places to play in the nation for opposing teams. During Pam Borton’s coaching tenure, the Golden Gophers have compiled an impressive 90-20 (82%) record in their home games. Minnesota is 8-1 in the Barn 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 57.1 points per game. Minnesota has held teams to less than 50 points four games this season. Pressure defense has caused opponents into an average of 20.4 turnovers a game with an average of 10.5 of those turnovers as a result of Gopher steals.
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.
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.
Productive Minutes for Harper
Zoe Harper continued to be a solid source of relief in the post for the Gophers and has a knack for making the most of her minutes played. In the win over Santa Clara, Harper scored a season-high 11 points and grabbed six rebounds, all on the offensive end, in just 15 minutes of action. Versus Purdue, limited by foul trouble, Harper played only 11 minutes but scored six points and corralled seven rebounds. On the season, Harper is averaging 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 14.1 minutes of play.
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 nine wins this season, the Gophers attempted an average of 25.6 per game. In comparison, Minnesota has attempted a total of just 80 free throws, an average of 16.0 attempts, in its five losses.
So Good to be Home
The Golden Gophers are more than happy to be playing at home in The Barn. The stats comparing Minnesota’s games at home compared to on opponents’ home courts are staggering. Minnesota is averaging 76.4 points per game at home while shooting a decent 41.8 percent. In the three true road games this season (Utah, Maryland and Purdue), the Gophers have struggled mightily scoring just an average of 49.0 points and shooting just 29.5 percent. The fewest points the Gophers have scored at home this season was 60 in the loss to Iowa State, while they have bettered the 80-point mark four times.
McCoy Moves up to No. 3 Spot in Career Assists
Senior Brittany McCoy has 425 assists in her Gopher career to pass Emily Fox (414, 2005-09) and into third on the Gophers’ all-time assists list. She collected her 200th career steal in the game versus Penn State and has 211.
Sharing the Honors
Five different Golden Gopher have earned game scoring honors this season (Ashley Ellis-Milan, Kiara Buford, Leah Cotton, Jackie Voigt and China Antoine). Buford have led the Gophers in scoring seven times this season. Antoine joined the list in the Gophers’ last outing at Purdue.
Ellis-Milan Joins McCoy with Triple-Digit Starts
Ashley Ellis-Milan started her 100th game as a Golden Gopher in the TCU game and now has a consecutive starting streak of 108 straight games. Earlier this season, Brittany McCoy proceeded Ellis-Milan in triple digits for career starts.
Ellis-Milan Moving On Up and Quickly
Ashley Ellis-Milan has already moved up six spots on the Minnesota all-time scoring list since joining the 1,000 career points club in the season-opener versus Lamar. She is now No. 13 with 1,144 career points. Ellis-Milan’s cousin Linda Roberts (1977-81) ranks No. 4 in Gopher scoring history with 1.856 points.
Ellis-Milan is also working her way up the career rebounds list. She is currently No. 6 on the list with 773 career rebounds.
Voigt Playing Bigger Role
Jackie Voigt had a string of seven straight games scoring in double figures snapped versus Iowa State. Voigt tallied only three double-figure scoring games last season. In her second season as a Gopher starter at forward, Voigt is averaging 9.2 points per game and has earned team game scoring honors two times.
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 impressive 11-4 start this season. The Wildcats, however, have lost their last two Big Ten games at home to Ohio State and Penn State Junior center Amy Jaeschke leads the Wildcats averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Brittany Orban checks in at 10.7 points a game.
The Minnesota / Northwestern Series
Northwestern leads the series with Minnesota by a 30-26 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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