University of Minnesota Athletics
Game Preview: Gophers at Rutgers
12/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| Minnesota at Rutgers | |
| Date / Time | Thursday, Dec. 31 | Noon CT |
| Location | The RAC - Piscataway, N.J. |
| Live Video | BTN Plus |
| Radio | KBEM 88.5 FM | Listen Online |
| Live Stats | |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Rutgers |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Rutgers |
| Social Media | @GopherWBB | Facebook |
Minnesota (8-3) will open its Big Ten schedule at Rutgers (9-3), with a noon CT game Thursday, Dec. 31. The game will be available on BTN Plus and KBEM 88.5 FM. Here are five things to look for as conference season begins:
1 The Gophers are looking for their first Big Ten-opening road win since winning at Michigan State to start the 2007-08 conference slate. In Marlene Stollings' first Big Ten game as a head coach, against No. 12/14 Nebraska last year, Minnesota won its league lidlifter for the first time in seven years. A win in Piscataway would give the Gophers their first back-to-back years starting 1-0 in Big Ten play since winning four consecutive openers ending in the 2005-06 season.
2 Rachel Banham needs to make three more field goals to break Carol Ann Shudlick's school record of 854. Passing Shudlick will also make Banham is already guaranteed to leave Minnesota with at least five career records (scoring, games scoring in double figures, 3-pointers, attempted 3-pointers, attempted field goals). She will likely also set the records for free throw percentage and games started.
3 Shayne Mullaney has twice come close to a triple-double this season. Most recently, against NJIT, the senior guard had 10 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Against Towson, she had 25 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. Mullaney has recorded two points/rebounds double-doubles this season.
4 The Gophers are 6-0 this season when they outrebound their opponents. Their biggest rebound margin came against Wofford when they held a 62-31 advantage on the glass. The Gophers have also won two games when they were outrebounded, including a victory against Memphis in which they had only one fewer rebound than the Tigers. Minnesota currently has six different players averaging 5.0 or more boards per contest: Rachel Banham (6.6), Shayne Mullaney (6.2), Carlie Wagner (5.5), Jessie Edwards (5.5), Mikayla Bailey (5.2) and Joanna Hedstrom (5.0).
5 Minnesota stole the ball a season-high 14 times against NJIT on Monday. Rachel Banham, Shayne Mullaney and Carlie Wagner had three steals each. These thefts helped lead to 39 points off turnovers and 20 fast break points for the Maroon and Gold. Banham is the Gophers' active leader with 205 career steals, and she has 32 this year (2.9 per game).
Scouting the Scarlet Knights
• Rutgers (9-3) is closing out a five-game homestand. The Scarlet Knights have won four straight games, most recently beating LSU on Dec. 19.
• Kahleah Copper, Rutgers' leading scorer (17.5 ppg) and rebounder (7.2 rpg), joins Rachel Banham on the Naismith Trophy Watch List and Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Tyler Scaife averages 16.0 points per contest. Copper is 11th on Rutgers' career scoring list (1,481) and Scaife is 25th (1,217).
• Rachel Hollivay has 256 career blocks, third in program history, and averages 3.0 bpg this year.
• Hall of fame coach C. Vivian Stringer has faced Minnesota only once with Rutgers, but did so many times while at Iowa 1983-95.
• Last year's game was the first time Minnesota and Rutgers met as conference rivals. It was a close game between two ranked teams as No. 25 Rutgers beat No. 21 Minnesota 66-61. Amanda Zahui B. had 36 points and 15 rebounds, and Carlie Wagner added 12 points. Scaife led the Scarlet Knights with 28 points.
Up Next
The Gophers will start their home conference season on Jan. 3 when they host Penn State at Williams Arena. Sunday's game starts at 2 p.m. Please visit mygophersports.com or call 1-800-U-GOPHER for ticket information.
