University of Minnesota Athletics
Game Preview: Gophers vs. Memphis
12/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| Minnesota vs. Memphis | |
| Date / Time | Saturday, Dec. 12 | 2 p.m. |
| Location | Williams Arena - Directions |
| Tickets | MyGopherSports.com |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| Live Video | BTN Plus |
| Radio | 1500 ESPN | Listen Online |
| Live Stats | |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Memphis |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Memphis |
| Social Media | @GopherWBB | Facebook |
| Clips | Hedstrom's role growing (Daily) |
| Banham named to Naismith Watch List (GopherSports) | |
| Banham with Gopher Sports Update (Listen here) | |
The Golden Gophers (5-2) will play their second of five consecutive home games on Saturday, Dec. 12 when they take on Memphis (4-4). The game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Williams Arena. Here are five things to know before the game:
1 Prior to Saturday's game, Naismith Trophy Watch List honoree Rachel Banham will be recognized for breaking Minnesota's career scoring record. Lindsay Whalen, who previously held the record with 2,285 points, will be part of the ceremony. Banham enters the game with 2,349 points. With 109 career games scoring in double figures, Banham also recently passed Whalen's program record in that category.
2 Rachel Banham and Carlie Wagner are the No. 2 scoring duo in the nation as of Dec. 9. Banham (24.3 points per game) and Wagner (20.4) combine to score 44.7 points per contest. Their combined average trails only that of Washington's Kelsey Plum (NCAA-best 28.4 ppg) and Talia Walton (18.3). Banham is one of two players in the country (along with UNC-Greensboro's Lucy Mason, nine games) to have at least 20 points in every game so far. Banham is one of seven to have at least seven 20-point games.
3 The Gophers have turned in six individual double-double performances in the first seven games of the season. Five of those came from guards, including two from Shayne Mullaney. The senior has notched her first two points/rebounds double-doubles after one points/assists double-double last season. She was one assist shy of a triple-double against Towson with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Carlie Wagner and Rachel Banham also had double-doubles against Towson, and Joanna Hedstrom was one rebound away from joining them.
4 Minnesota ranks first in the Big Ten and fourth nationally with an average of 10.7 3-pointers per game. With 15 triples against Towson, the Gophers nearly equaled their school record of 16 set against Wofford in the season opener. They have made 10-plus 3-pointers in four games, and have made at least seven in all but one game.
5 Joanna Hedstrom has started three games this season after coming into the season with just one career start. She set new career highs with 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes against Towson. Hedstrom, who is able to play all five positions on the court, has already surpassed her previous career highs for points (now at 39) and rebounds (now at 40) in a season.
Scouting the Tigers
• Memphis is 4-4 with an 0-2 mark on the road. The Tigers are coming off a short break for final exams following losses to St. Louis and George Washington.
• Minnesota beat the Tigers 68-62 in Memphis last November. Shae Kelley led the Gophers with 20 points, and Ariel Hearn led the Tigers with 28.
• Hearn leads Memphis in scoring (14.5 points per game) and has 1,611 career points
• Brianna Wright (6.6 rebounds per game) and Asianna Fuqua-Bey (6.5) lead the Tigers on the boards and average 9.4 and 9.3 points per game.
• Memphis head coach Melissa McFerrin returns to a familiar venue, as she was part of the Gophers' coaching staff 2002-04, including the 2004 Final Four run. She was an assistant at Ohio State during Marlene Stollings' two seasons there (1993-95).
• Minnesota's Danielle Garven and Memphis' Cheyenne Creighton were teammates at John Paul II Secondary and age-level Candian national teams.
