University of Minnesota Athletics
Game Preview: Minnesota vs. Vanderbilt
11/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| Minnesota (4-0) vs. Vanderbilt (4-0) - Gulf Coast Showcase (Fort Myers, Fla.) | |
| Date / Time | Friday, November 28 | 5 p.m. CT |
| Location | Fort Myers, Fla. (Germain Arena) |
| Live Video | Click Here |
| Free Audio | Gophersports.com Play-by-Play: Corbu Stathes | Analyst: Lynnette Sjoquist |
| Live Stats | Stat Broadcast |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Vanderbilt |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Vanderbilt | Gulf Coast Showcase |
| Social Media | @GophersWBB | Facebook |
| GCS Central | Click Here |
| GCS Bracket | Click Here |
| Fan Gathering | Miller's Ale House (Estero) |
Nov. 26, 2014
THE OPENING TIP - QUICK NOTES
• The University of Minnesota (4-0) women's basketball team opens the three-day Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers, Fla., Friday at 5 p.m. against Vanderbilt (4-0) at Germain Arena. Gopher fans in Southwest Florida are invited to Miller's Estero Ale House for a pregame fan gathering prior to tip off.
• The contest will be streamed live on americaonesports.com/atlanticsun, while fans can listen to the Golden Gopher women's basketball radio team of Corbu Stathes and Lynnette Sjoquist free of charge on Gophersports.com. Live stats will also be available on statbroadcast.com and live updates can be found on the Gophers' twitter page - @GophersWBB.
• The Gulf Coast Showcase is in just its second year of existence, with some of the top teams in the nation competing in the event, including defending NCAA champion No. 3/3 Connecticut, Vanderbilt, Arizona State and Green Bay, all of whom are receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches Polls.
• The Gophers are also one of the top teams competing in the tournament, as they are receiving 14 votes in the AP Poll this week, up two votes from last week.
• Friday's contest will be just the second between the Gophers and the Commodores, with Vanderbilt claiming a 98-72 win in the teams' lone meeting on March 19, 1994 in the NCAA Tournament.
• Both the Gophers and the Commodores enter Friday's opening-round contest with perfect 4-0 records on the season.
• Rachel Banham was named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 30 and the "Wade Watch" list for the second-straight year. The lists are made up of the front-runners for their respective national player of the year awards.
• Shae Kelley was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for her performance in the Gophers' pair of contests last week. She averaged a double-double with 20.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, while adding a 3.0 steals-per-game average and a .630 (17-for-27) shooting percentage.
• With 2,084 career points, Rachel Banham needs just 14 points on Friday against the Commodores to overtake Carol Ann Shudlick (2,097) for No. 2 on Minnesota's all-time scoring register. Banham is also just 202 points away from breaking Minnesota's all-time career scoring record of 2,285 points held by Lindsay Whalen.
• Minnesota has had four players score in double figures in each of its four games this season.
• The Gophers have scored 100+ points in two games already this season, which includes the squad's 107-62 victory over Southern Tuesday night. The Maroon and Gold has scored 100 or more points twice in a season only two times previous to this year (1991-92 and 1980-81).
• Minnesota currently ranks in the top 10 nationally in six categories, including blocks (1st), win-loss percentage (1st), defensive rebounds (4th), assists (7th), assist turnover ratio (7th) and scoring (10th).
• UP NEXT: Minnesota continues play in the Gulf Coast Showcase Saturday and will face either No. 3/3 Connecticut or College of Charleston depending on the outcome of Friday's first-round contests. The Gopher will wrap up play in the tournament on Sunday.
