University of Minnesota Athletics
Preview: Gophers at the San Juan Shootout
11/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| Minnesota at the San Juan Shootout | |
| Date / Time | vs. Stetson: Friday, November 27 | 3:45 p.m. |
| vs. Auburn: Saturday, November 28 | 6 p.m. | |
| Location | Mario Quijote Morales Coliseum - Guaynabo, Puerto Rico |
| Live Video | Friday Game | Saturday Game |
| Radio | KBEM 88.5 | Listen Online |
| 1500 ESPN | Listen Online | |
| Live Stats | Friday Game | Saturday Game |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Stetson | Auburn |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Stetson | Auburn |
| Social Media | @GopherWBB | Facebook |
Sandwiched between two true road games, the Golden Gopher women's basketball team (2-0) has two games in the San Juan Shootout. Minnesota will take on Stetson (3-1) and Auburn (3-1) in Puerto Rico. The game against the Hatters will tip off at 3:45 Central on Nov. 27, while the game against the Tigers is set for 6 p.m. Central on Nov. 28. Here are five things to watch going into the Thanksgiving weekend tournament:
1 Rachel Banham enters the San Juan Shootout 31 points away from setting a new Minnesota career scoring record. She has 2,255 career points, behind only Lindsay Whalen (2000-04), and is the NCAA's active career scoring leader. The fifth-year guard has scored 76 points through three games (25.3 ppg). Banham notched her 500th career rebound at Kent State, joining the other members of Minnesota's 2,000-point club (Whalen, Carol Ann Shudlick and Laura Coenen) in an additional statistical category.
2 At Kent State, Minnesota scored 22 of its 46 points in the paint during the fourth quarter. All 11 of the Gophers' field goals in the final frame were in the paint, with the other nine points coming from Rachel Banham free throws. The inside game was a different look for the Gophers, who combined for 29 3-pointers in their first two games (and still lead the nation, averagin 12.0 per game through Nov. 24) before making seven against the Golden Flashes.
3 A different Golden Gopher has recorded a double-double in each game this season: Mikayla Bailey (26 points/13 rebounds) against Wofford, Jessie Edwards against Maine (15 points/16 rebounds) against Maine and Shayne Mullaney (10 points/12 rebounds). Bailey's and Edwards' totals were career highs in both categories, while Mullaney reached double figures on the boards for the first time.
4 Joanna Hedstrom has been the Gophers' top player off the bench. She is averaging 26.0 minutes and 7.0 points per game. Hedstrom scored a career-high 11 points at Kent State.
5 The previous three years, Minnesota played three games and went 2-1 each time in its Thanksgiving weekend tournaments (Cancun Challenge, Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown, then Gulf Coast Showcase).
Scouting the Hatters
• Stetson is 3-1 with wins against Trinity Baptist, Bethune-Cookman and Armstrong State and a loss at Georgia.
• Brianti Saunders is averaging 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Saunders is a key returner after the Hatters lost 66.5 percent of last year's scoring. Breana Bey (team-high 6.3 rebounds per game) and Aisha Turner are each averaging 12.8 points per contest. Turner has been the team's best 3-point threat at 9-for-15 so far this year.
• The Hatters lead the Atlantic Sun in field goal percentage, connecting on 45.8 percent of attempts.
Scouting the Tigers
• Like Stetson, Auburn is 3-1 entering the San Juan Shootout. The Tigers beat UA, Southeastern Louisiana and Savannah State, and lost to Virginia.
• Brandy Montgomery leads Auburn with a 17.5-point scoring average. She is shooting 10-of-27 from beyond the arc. Janiah McKay (13.8 ppg) and Tra'Cee Tanner (13.0 ppg) also average double figures, and Tanner has pulled down 8.0 rebounds per game.
• Tanner is 11 points away from 1,000 in her career.
