University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Arrive in Reno for Nugget Classic
11/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The University of Minnesota women's basketball team arrived in Reno, Nev., a little after Noon (CST) today, as it prepares for the 2010 John Ascuaga's Nugget Classic at the Lawlor Events Center.
The Golden Gophers were supposed to have flown to Reno on Wednesday, but their flight was delayed dur to the wintery weather in the Twin Cities late Wednesday afternoon. Minnesota is on the road for the first time this season, and will celebrate Thanksgiving together at the team banquet this evening.
The Golden Gophers open the tournament versus San Diego State on Friday at 5:00 p.m. (CST), and will face either Nevada or North Carolina State on Saturday. The third-place game will begin at 7:00 p.m. (CST), with the title game to follow at 9:00 p.m. (CST).
Minnesota (3-2) is coming off a week in which they won two of three games, with a 73-63 victory against Pittsburgh on Wednesday and a 76-53 win versus Milwaukee in the opening game of the Subway Classic on Saturday, before losing to Dayton, 97-81, in Sunday's championship.
Minnesota and San Diego State have played twice, but have not met on the hardwood since the 1985-86 season. The Aztecs defeated the Gophers, 82-66, on Dec. 27, 1984 in San Diego, and the Gophers won by a score of 72-69 in Minneapolis on Nov. 27, 1985.
Head coach Pam Borton's Gophers have shot the ball extremely well this season, ranking first among Big Ten teams with a .513 (137-of-267) field goal percentage and second for three-point field goal percentage (.444, 28-of-63).
Individually, Kiara Buford ranks fifth with an average of 18.4 points per game, while Leah Cotton is 19th at 12.8 ppg and leads the conference with a .710 (22-of-31) field goal percentage. China Antoine leads the Big Ten with an average of 7.0 assists per game and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.5, while ranking third for three-pointers per game (2.6), fourth for steals (2.6 spg), seventh for three-point percentage (.591), eighth for field goal percentage (.586), and 30th for scoring (10.2 ppg). Jackie Voigt ranks ninth in rebounding (7.6 rpg). Buford and Antoine were named to the all-tournament team at the Subway Classic.
