University of Minnesota Athletics
Game Preview: Maryland
12/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2016
Minnesota (9-5, 0-1) will start the New Year in exciting fashion, with a jersey retirement ceremony and a game against No. 4/3 Maryland (12-1, 0-0). The game on Sunday, Jan. 1 will start at 5 p.m. CT. It can be heard on the Gopher Radio Network (KBEM 88.5 FM in the Twin Cities) and seen via BTN Plus.
Here are some notes on the Gophers as they prepare for their Big Ten home opener:
1 Before Sunday's game, Minnesota will retire Rachel Banham's jersey. Banham (2011-16) is the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer, ranking sixth in NCAA history with 3,093 points. Banham was an All-American, the Big Ten Player of the Year, a Wooden Award top-five finalist and the No. 4 pick in the WNBA Draft. (Minnesota had two consecutive conference players of the year (Amanda Zahui B. in 2015) and is the only school other than UConn to have top-five picks in the past two drafts.) Banham tied the NCAA record with 60 points in a game last year and holds numerous Minnesota records including 914 points in a season (28.6), 354 career 3-pointers (119 as a senior), 577 free throws and 1,081 field goals.
2 The Gophers are 32-6 at Williams Arena under Marlene Stollings. This includes wins over four ranked teams, most notably last year's overtime victory against No. 5 Ohio State. Minnesota is 7-1 at home this season, with five of those wins coming against teams who played in the 2016 postseason. A win against Maryland would be the Gophers' first in the short series history.
3 Carlie Wagner's career scoring average of 15.9 points per game ranks 15th among active players with at least 1,000 total points. She is fourth in the Big Ten in that category. This season, Naismith Trophy Watch List honoree Wagner is scoring 18.1 points per game to lead the team and rank seventh in the conference. Kenisha Bell is Minnesota's second leading scorer at 16.7 points per game. Bell ranks 12th in the Big Ten in scoring (16.7), second in assists (5.5) and third in steals (2.3) this season.
4 The Gophers continue to hold the best RPI rating of any Big Ten team. They are 15th (Dec. 29) and have been as high as 11th, with one of the toughest schedules in the country. (See p. 2.) Minnesota has improved its RPI about 90 spots from a similar point last season.
5 In her debut at No. 14/13 Ohio State Bryanna Fernstrom (previously completing redshirt year after transferring) tallied 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Gophers' sixth double-double of the season. Fellow center Jessie Edwards is approaching a milestone, as she is one block away from entering Minnesota's career top 10. She has 72 blocks and would tie Zoe Harper (2006-10) for 10th with one more.
SCOUTING THE TERRAPINS
• Preseason Big Ten favorite Maryland is 12-1, with its only loss coming against No. 1 UConn on Thursday. The Terrapins have three wins against 2016 NCAA Tournament teams.
• Head coach Brenda Frese, who was at Minnesota for the 2001-02 season, has been at Maryland since then. She has guided the Terps to the 2006 NCAA title multiple Big Ten titles, most recently last year.
• Maryland is among national leaders in field goal percentage (51.1), rebounding margin (17.4), scoring (90.4) and assists (20.5).
• Brionna Jones is averaging 17.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough is averaging 16.0 points, and freshman Destiny Slocum adds 11.6.
| Minnesota vs. Maryland | |
| Date / Time | Sunday, Jan. 1 | 5 p.m. |
| Location | Williams Arena - Directions |
| Tickets | Click Here |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| TV/Live Video | BTN Plus |
| Radio | KBEM 88.5 FM | Listen Online |
| Live Stats | |
| Live Update | Game Day Live |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Maryland |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Maryland |
| Links | Q&A: Rachel Banham excited for jersey retirement |
| Social Media | @GopherWBB | Facebook |
Minnesota (9-5, 0-1) will start the New Year in exciting fashion, with a jersey retirement ceremony and a game against No. 4/3 Maryland (12-1, 0-0). The game on Sunday, Jan. 1 will start at 5 p.m. CT. It can be heard on the Gopher Radio Network (KBEM 88.5 FM in the Twin Cities) and seen via BTN Plus.
Here are some notes on the Gophers as they prepare for their Big Ten home opener:
1 Before Sunday's game, Minnesota will retire Rachel Banham's jersey. Banham (2011-16) is the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer, ranking sixth in NCAA history with 3,093 points. Banham was an All-American, the Big Ten Player of the Year, a Wooden Award top-five finalist and the No. 4 pick in the WNBA Draft. (Minnesota had two consecutive conference players of the year (Amanda Zahui B. in 2015) and is the only school other than UConn to have top-five picks in the past two drafts.) Banham tied the NCAA record with 60 points in a game last year and holds numerous Minnesota records including 914 points in a season (28.6), 354 career 3-pointers (119 as a senior), 577 free throws and 1,081 field goals.
2 The Gophers are 32-6 at Williams Arena under Marlene Stollings. This includes wins over four ranked teams, most notably last year's overtime victory against No. 5 Ohio State. Minnesota is 7-1 at home this season, with five of those wins coming against teams who played in the 2016 postseason. A win against Maryland would be the Gophers' first in the short series history.
3 Carlie Wagner's career scoring average of 15.9 points per game ranks 15th among active players with at least 1,000 total points. She is fourth in the Big Ten in that category. This season, Naismith Trophy Watch List honoree Wagner is scoring 18.1 points per game to lead the team and rank seventh in the conference. Kenisha Bell is Minnesota's second leading scorer at 16.7 points per game. Bell ranks 12th in the Big Ten in scoring (16.7), second in assists (5.5) and third in steals (2.3) this season.
4 The Gophers continue to hold the best RPI rating of any Big Ten team. They are 15th (Dec. 29) and have been as high as 11th, with one of the toughest schedules in the country. (See p. 2.) Minnesota has improved its RPI about 90 spots from a similar point last season.
5 In her debut at No. 14/13 Ohio State Bryanna Fernstrom (previously completing redshirt year after transferring) tallied 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Gophers' sixth double-double of the season. Fellow center Jessie Edwards is approaching a milestone, as she is one block away from entering Minnesota's career top 10. She has 72 blocks and would tie Zoe Harper (2006-10) for 10th with one more.
SCOUTING THE TERRAPINS
• Preseason Big Ten favorite Maryland is 12-1, with its only loss coming against No. 1 UConn on Thursday. The Terrapins have three wins against 2016 NCAA Tournament teams.
• Head coach Brenda Frese, who was at Minnesota for the 2001-02 season, has been at Maryland since then. She has guided the Terps to the 2006 NCAA title multiple Big Ten titles, most recently last year.
• Maryland is among national leaders in field goal percentage (51.1), rebounding margin (17.4), scoring (90.4) and assists (20.5).
• Brionna Jones is averaging 17.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough is averaging 16.0 points, and freshman Destiny Slocum adds 11.6.
Players Mentioned
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