University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Faces Hokies for ACC/Big Ten Challenge
12/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota plays host to the Hokies of Virginia Tech for the annual ACC / Big Ten Challenge Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. (CST) in Williams Arena.
The game will be streamed live on BigTenNetwork.com, with Matt Nelson handling the play-by-play and Andy Kimball adding color analysis. The contest can also be heard live on WCCO Radio (830 AM) and selected stations on the Gopher Radio Network, with Corbu Stathes calling the play-by-play and Lynnette Sjoquist adding color commentary.
The Gophers enter the contest with a record of 4-3 after going 1-1 at last weekend's Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev. Minnesota dropped a 61-59 decision versus San Diego State in the opening round on Friday, and was able to salvage a split by rebounding for a 71-67 victory against North Carolina State.
Minnesota and Virginia Tech have played twice, with each team winning on its home court. Minnesota defeated the Hokies, 70-56, on Nov. 20, 2004 in the title game of the Subway Classic, and VT won by a score of 68-62 in Blacksburg, Va., on Nov. 30, 2007 in the inaugural ACC / Big Ten Challenge.
Head coach Pam Borton's Gophers have shot the ball well this season, ranking second among Big Ten teams and 12th nationally with a .480 (182-of-379) field goal percentage. The Gophers also rank third in the Big Ten and 12th nationally for three-point field goal percentage (.409, 36-of-88).
Individually, Kiara Buford ranks seventh in the Big Ten with an average of 16.6 points per game, while Leah Cotton is 13th at 14.4 ppg and is fourth in the conference with a .561 (32-of-57) field goal percentage. China Antoine is second in the Big Ten and 15th nationally with an average of 6.1 assists per game, and she leads the conference (19th nationally) with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.87. Antoine also ranks fourth in the Big Ten for three-point percentage (.536), fifth for steals (2.4 spg), and sixth in the Big Ten for three-pointers per game (2.1). Jackie Voigt ranks 11th in rebounding (7.3 rpg). Cotton was named to the all-tournament team at the Nugget Classic after averaging 18.5 points and scoring a career-high 25 points versus N.C. State.
For ticket information, call the Golden Gopher Ticket Office at 612.624.8080 or 1.800.U.GOPHER, or visit www.mygophersports.com.
