University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Face Penn State on Thursday Night
2/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-12, 4-8)
vs.
Penn State Lady Lions (15-8, 7-6)
LOCATION Bryce Jordan Ctr (15,261) / University Park, Pa.
DATE / TIME: Thursday, Feb. 11 / 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT
TELEVISION: none
WEBCAST: BigTenNetwork.com
RADIO: Gopher Radio Network, KBEM (88.5 FM)
Corbu Stathes (Play-by-Play), Lynnette Sjoquist (Color Analysis)
Gophersports.com
Golden Gopher Watch List — Feb. 11, 2010
• Gophers Travel to Penn State - Minnesota (11-12, 4-8) looks to shake loose of a six-game losing streak when the Golden Gophers travel to Penn State for a game on Thursday, Feb. 11. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. CT with BigTenNetwork.com offering a video webstream of the contest. The Gophers have won the last five games over the Lady Lions, including a 56-48 win over Penn State on Dec. 6 in Williams Arena earlier this season.
• McCoy Makes Minnesota History - Senior Brittany McCoy, with 108 assists in 2009-10, became the very first Golden Gopher to record triple digits in assists in all four seasons of a career. McCoy is dishing out 4.7 assists per game this season ranking second in the Big Ten.
• Valentine’s Day Brings Pink Zone to Williams - Minnesota hosts Ohio State on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, Feb. 14th at 11:30 a.m. The game will be the Gophers’ annual Pink Zone game supporting the WBCA’s initiative fighting breast cancer.
Gophers Travel to Happy Valley
Minnesota continues its trek through the Big Ten schedule on Thursday, Feb. 11, when the Golden Gophers travel to Penn State. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. The Gophers enter the game with an 11-12 overall record, 4-8 in Big Ten play. The Lady Lions are tied for third in the Big Ten standings with a 7-6 record, 15-8 overall.
Game Times Announced for FInal Two Games
The Big Ten has announced the tip times of the Gophers’ final two regular season games. The game on Feb. 25 versus Michigan in Williams Arena will begin at 7 p.m CT and be webcast on BigTenNetwork.com. The regular-season finale at Michigan State will tip off at 1 p.m. CT and be broadcast live by the Big Ten Network.
Minnesota Triple Play on BTN on Sunday
Three Minnesota sporting teams will be featured in live action on the Big Ten Network on Sunday, Feb. 14. The Golden Gopher women’s basketball team kicks off the day versus Ohio State at 11:30 a.m. The men’s basketball team plays at Northwestern at 4 p.m., followed by the Minnesota wrestling team hosting rival Iowa at 6 p.m.
Seems Like Forever Ago
Minnesota and Penn State kicked off the Big Ten season way back on Dec. 6, the ninth game of the season and a contest that took place over two months ago. The Gophers, led by Kiara Buford’s 15 points, captured a 56-48 victory. Minnesota connected on 23-of-26 free throws in the win.
Uphill Climb Continues
Minnesota continues a difficult stretch of its schedule where the Gophers will play only two more home games, with four road game, the rest of the year.
McCoy Sets the Standard in Gopher History
Brittany McCoy is the first and only player in Minnesota women’s basketball history to tally 100 or more assists in every season of a Golden Gopher career. She has 108 assists in her senior season, averaging a career-best 4.7 assists a game.
Top Scorer to Provide a Challenge
The Gopher defense will need to be in top form on Thursday as they face the Big Ten’s leading scorer Penn State senior guard Tyra Grant, who is averaging 20.5 points per Conference game. Grant scored 23 points (8-20 FGs, 3-6 3FGs) in the first meeting against the Gophers this season.
A Streak to be Broken
Minnesota looks to break a six-game losing streak when the Gophers face Penn State after dropping decisions to Northwestern, Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan in their last six ballgames. The streak is the longest losing skid under Pam Borton and since the Gophers lost 11 straight to end the 2000-01 season.
Had to Look it up...
Minnesota did not have a single player score in double figures its last outing, a disappointing 74-40 loss at Michigan on Sunday. The last time the Gophers failed to record one double-digit scorer was 12 years ago, in a 75-42 loss at Indiana on Feb. 15, 1998.
Gophers Lose Longest Home Game in Barn History
Minnesota is coming off a 76-74 double-overtime loss to Wisconsin on Feb. 4. the longest game in Williams Arena history. The game was only the second double-overtime contest in Minnesota history. The Gophers lost an 80-77 game in two OTs at Indiana in 2008. Minnesota is 1-1 in overtime games this season. The Gophers defeated Iowa in one overtime (73-69) on Jan. 3.
Borton Nearing Title of Winningest Gopher Coach
Minnesota head coach Pam Borton has 163 wins on the Golden Gopher sidelines and is 10 wins from becoming the winningest coach in Gopher women’s basketball history. Ellen Mosher-Hanson currently owns the honor with 172 in her 10 years (1977-87) with Minnesota.
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, Feb 15.
Antoine Returns to Double-Digit Scoring
Guard China Antoine scored 10 points against Wisconsin, her first double-digit scoring output since missing three games with a left knee injury and her sixth double-figure game in her nine games as a member of the Gophers’ starting five. Antoine is averaging 11.8 points per game as a starter. She has hit two or more three-pointers in 12 of the her 20 outings and hitting 2.5 three-pointers per game as a starter as well.
The Leader from the Line
Jackie Voigt She has made 30-of-31 in Big Ten play for 93.8 percent, topping the Conference stats. On the season, Voigt is shooting 90.9 percent from the line with just four missed attempts (40-44). The Gophers’ single-season record (need 100 attempts to be eligible) is 84.7 percent by Lindsay Whalen in 2002-03. At one point earlier this season, Voigt made 22 consecutive free throws.
Harper OK with Life on the Road
Zoe Harper has proven to be one of the Gophers’ most reliable players on the road this season. Harper, a 6-3 post, has averaged 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in Minnesota’s Big Ten road games this season. She tallied double figures in the Illinois, Northwestern and Ohio State road games.
Impressive Career Numbers for Ash
Senior Ashley Ellis-Milan has 816 caroms in her Gopher career. She is 32 rebounds from moving into the Golden Gophers’ top five on the all-time rebounding list. Ellis-Milan also has 1.225 career points.
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 195 free throws, an average of 16.3 attempts, in its 12 losses. Nearly a fifth of the Gophers’ free throws in losses come in the Wisconsin game (31).
Brittany McCoy Building on Starts Record
Senior Brittany McCoy made her 120th career start of her Gopher career in the game versus Michigan 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.
McCoy also has the chance to become the Gophers’ first player to start every game during a four-year career.
Scouting Penn State
Penn State is tied for third place in the Big Ten standings with Wisconsin at 7-6. The Lady Lions are 15-8 overall. All-Big Ten guard Tyra Grant leads the Lady Lions averaging 19.3 points per game. Freshman guard Alex Bentley adds 11.9 points an outing, the second-leading Big Ten freshman scorer averaging 14.0 points in Conference action.
The Minnesota / Penn State Series
Penn State leads the series versus Minnesota; but the Gophers have made a big dent in the Lady Lions; advantage. The Gopher,have won the last five games of the series and 10 of the last 13. Minnesota has captured season series sweep over Penn State the last two years.
vs.
Penn State Lady Lions (15-8, 7-6)
LOCATION Bryce Jordan Ctr (15,261) / University Park, Pa.
DATE / TIME: Thursday, Feb. 11 / 7 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. CT
TELEVISION: none
WEBCAST: BigTenNetwork.com
RADIO: Gopher Radio Network, KBEM (88.5 FM)
Corbu Stathes (Play-by-Play), Lynnette Sjoquist (Color Analysis)
Gophersports.com
Golden Gopher Watch List — Feb. 11, 2010
• Gophers Travel to Penn State - Minnesota (11-12, 4-8) looks to shake loose of a six-game losing streak when the Golden Gophers travel to Penn State for a game on Thursday, Feb. 11. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. CT with BigTenNetwork.com offering a video webstream of the contest. The Gophers have won the last five games over the Lady Lions, including a 56-48 win over Penn State on Dec. 6 in Williams Arena earlier this season.
• McCoy Makes Minnesota History - Senior Brittany McCoy, with 108 assists in 2009-10, became the very first Golden Gopher to record triple digits in assists in all four seasons of a career. McCoy is dishing out 4.7 assists per game this season ranking second in the Big Ten.
• Valentine’s Day Brings Pink Zone to Williams - Minnesota hosts Ohio State on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, Feb. 14th at 11:30 a.m. The game will be the Gophers’ annual Pink Zone game supporting the WBCA’s initiative fighting breast cancer.
Gophers Travel to Happy Valley
Minnesota continues its trek through the Big Ten schedule on Thursday, Feb. 11, when the Golden Gophers travel to Penn State. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. The Gophers enter the game with an 11-12 overall record, 4-8 in Big Ten play. The Lady Lions are tied for third in the Big Ten standings with a 7-6 record, 15-8 overall.
Game Times Announced for FInal Two Games
The Big Ten has announced the tip times of the Gophers’ final two regular season games. The game on Feb. 25 versus Michigan in Williams Arena will begin at 7 p.m CT and be webcast on BigTenNetwork.com. The regular-season finale at Michigan State will tip off at 1 p.m. CT and be broadcast live by the Big Ten Network.
Minnesota Triple Play on BTN on Sunday
Three Minnesota sporting teams will be featured in live action on the Big Ten Network on Sunday, Feb. 14. The Golden Gopher women’s basketball team kicks off the day versus Ohio State at 11:30 a.m. The men’s basketball team plays at Northwestern at 4 p.m., followed by the Minnesota wrestling team hosting rival Iowa at 6 p.m.
Seems Like Forever Ago
Minnesota and Penn State kicked off the Big Ten season way back on Dec. 6, the ninth game of the season and a contest that took place over two months ago. The Gophers, led by Kiara Buford’s 15 points, captured a 56-48 victory. Minnesota connected on 23-of-26 free throws in the win.
Uphill Climb Continues
Minnesota continues a difficult stretch of its schedule where the Gophers will play only two more home games, with four road game, the rest of the year.
McCoy Sets the Standard in Gopher History
Brittany McCoy is the first and only player in Minnesota women’s basketball history to tally 100 or more assists in every season of a Golden Gopher career. She has 108 assists in her senior season, averaging a career-best 4.7 assists a game.
Top Scorer to Provide a Challenge
The Gopher defense will need to be in top form on Thursday as they face the Big Ten’s leading scorer Penn State senior guard Tyra Grant, who is averaging 20.5 points per Conference game. Grant scored 23 points (8-20 FGs, 3-6 3FGs) in the first meeting against the Gophers this season.
A Streak to be Broken
Minnesota looks to break a six-game losing streak when the Gophers face Penn State after dropping decisions to Northwestern, Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan in their last six ballgames. The streak is the longest losing skid under Pam Borton and since the Gophers lost 11 straight to end the 2000-01 season.
Had to Look it up...
Minnesota did not have a single player score in double figures its last outing, a disappointing 74-40 loss at Michigan on Sunday. The last time the Gophers failed to record one double-digit scorer was 12 years ago, in a 75-42 loss at Indiana on Feb. 15, 1998.
Gophers Lose Longest Home Game in Barn History
Minnesota is coming off a 76-74 double-overtime loss to Wisconsin on Feb. 4. the longest game in Williams Arena history. The game was only the second double-overtime contest in Minnesota history. The Gophers lost an 80-77 game in two OTs at Indiana in 2008. Minnesota is 1-1 in overtime games this season. The Gophers defeated Iowa in one overtime (73-69) on Jan. 3.
Borton Nearing Title of Winningest Gopher Coach
Minnesota head coach Pam Borton has 163 wins on the Golden Gopher sidelines and is 10 wins from becoming the winningest coach in Gopher women’s basketball history. Ellen Mosher-Hanson currently owns the honor with 172 in her 10 years (1977-87) with Minnesota.
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, Feb 15.
Antoine Returns to Double-Digit Scoring
Guard China Antoine scored 10 points against Wisconsin, her first double-digit scoring output since missing three games with a left knee injury and her sixth double-figure game in her nine games as a member of the Gophers’ starting five. Antoine is averaging 11.8 points per game as a starter. She has hit two or more three-pointers in 12 of the her 20 outings and hitting 2.5 three-pointers per game as a starter as well.
The Leader from the Line
Jackie Voigt She has made 30-of-31 in Big Ten play for 93.8 percent, topping the Conference stats. On the season, Voigt is shooting 90.9 percent from the line with just four missed attempts (40-44). The Gophers’ single-season record (need 100 attempts to be eligible) is 84.7 percent by Lindsay Whalen in 2002-03. At one point earlier this season, Voigt made 22 consecutive free throws.
Harper OK with Life on the Road
Zoe Harper has proven to be one of the Gophers’ most reliable players on the road this season. Harper, a 6-3 post, has averaged 9.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in Minnesota’s Big Ten road games this season. She tallied double figures in the Illinois, Northwestern and Ohio State road games.
Impressive Career Numbers for Ash
Senior Ashley Ellis-Milan has 816 caroms in her Gopher career. She is 32 rebounds from moving into the Golden Gophers’ top five on the all-time rebounding list. Ellis-Milan also has 1.225 career points.
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 195 free throws, an average of 16.3 attempts, in its 12 losses. Nearly a fifth of the Gophers’ free throws in losses come in the Wisconsin game (31).
Brittany McCoy Building on Starts Record
Senior Brittany McCoy made her 120th career start of her Gopher career in the game versus Michigan 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.
McCoy also has the chance to become the Gophers’ first player to start every game during a four-year career.
Scouting Penn State
Penn State is tied for third place in the Big Ten standings with Wisconsin at 7-6. The Lady Lions are 15-8 overall. All-Big Ten guard Tyra Grant leads the Lady Lions averaging 19.3 points per game. Freshman guard Alex Bentley adds 11.9 points an outing, the second-leading Big Ten freshman scorer averaging 14.0 points in Conference action.
The Minnesota / Penn State Series
Penn State leads the series versus Minnesota; but the Gophers have made a big dent in the Lady Lions; advantage. The Gopher,have won the last five games of the series and 10 of the last 13. Minnesota has captured season series sweep over Penn State the last two years.
Players Mentioned
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