University of Minnesota Athletics
Game Preview: Indiana
1/3/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2017
After hanging with No. 4/3 Maryland, the Golden Gophers (9-6, 0-2 Big Ten) travel to face Indiana (11-4, 1-1 Big Ten) on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be carried by BTN Plus and the Gopher Radio Network (KBEM 88.5 FM in the Twin Cities).
Here are the Gophers' top notes as they vie for their first conference win:
1 The Gophers have won three of their past four matchups with Indiana, and six of their last eight. Minnesota split its series with the Hoosiers last year, with each team winning on its home court. Carlie Wagner scored in double figures for the Gophers in both games last year. A victory on Wednesday would give the Gophers a winning road record (16-15) in the all-time series.
2 Carlie Wagner's 20-point performance against No. 4/3 Maryland was her seventh game this season (25th overall) with at least that many points. Her career scoring average of 16.0 points per game ranks 16th among active players with at least 1,000 total points. This season, Naismith Trophy Watch List honoree Wagner is scoring 18.3 points per game to lead the team and rank eighth in the conference.
3 Kenisha Bell is Minnesota's second leading scorer at 16.9 points per game (12th in the Big Ten), and has a slightly higher conference average than Wagner at 16.5 points per game early in the schedule. Bell ranks second in assists (5.6) and fourth in steals (2.2) this season. Bell has scored in double figures 14 times (every game she has played), tallied seven or more assists five times and notched three or more steals six times.
4 The Gophers continue to hold the best RPI rating of any Big Ten team. They are 26th (Jan. 3) and have been as high as 11th, with one of the toughest schedules in the country. Minnesota opened Big Ten play against the Big Ten's two highest-ranked teams in the AP poll, and kept it close with No. 4/3 Maryland on Sunday. The Gophers twice cut the Terrapins' lead to one point in the second half.
5 The Gophers boast a pair of shot-blocking threats in centers Jessie Edwards and Bryanna Fernstrom. 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. Fernstrom, who made her Minnesota debut at Ohio State, blocked five shots against Maryland in Sunday's game while playing a career-high 36 minutes.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
• Indiana is off to a 1-1 start in Big Ten play, beating Penn State and losing to Ohio State. The Hoosiers' 10 non-conference wins tied their program record.
• Teri Moren is in her third season at Indiana and 14th year as a head coach. She was the Big Ten Coach of the Year last season after guiding the Hoosiers to 21 wins.
• Tyra Buss is Indiana's leading scorer at 19.7 points per game. The junior ranks 13th on the Hoosiers' career scoring list and recently broke into the top 10 in career assists.
• Amanda Cahill (15.3) and Alexis Gassion (13.8)also average double figures, with Cahill pulling down 8.8 rebounds per game.
• The Hoosiers rank fifth nationally in field goal percentage (.498) and eighth in scoring (83.1).
COMING UP NEXT
Minnesota will host a Border Battle against Wisconsin on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m. Karley Barnes will be the featured Gopher in the postgame autograph session.
| Minnesota at Indiana | |
| Date / Time | Wednesday, Jan. 4 | 6 p.m. CT |
| Location | Assembly Hall (Bloomington, Ind.) |
| Live Video | BTN Plus |
| Radio | 88.5 KBEM FM | Listen Online |
| Live Stats | Click Here |
| Game Notes | Minnesota | Indiana |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Indiana |
| Links | Rachel Banham Jersey Retirement Recap |
| Social Media | @GopherWBB | Facebook |
After hanging with No. 4/3 Maryland, the Golden Gophers (9-6, 0-2 Big Ten) travel to face Indiana (11-4, 1-1 Big Ten) on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be carried by BTN Plus and the Gopher Radio Network (KBEM 88.5 FM in the Twin Cities).
Here are the Gophers' top notes as they vie for their first conference win:
1 The Gophers have won three of their past four matchups with Indiana, and six of their last eight. Minnesota split its series with the Hoosiers last year, with each team winning on its home court. Carlie Wagner scored in double figures for the Gophers in both games last year. A victory on Wednesday would give the Gophers a winning road record (16-15) in the all-time series.
2 Carlie Wagner's 20-point performance against No. 4/3 Maryland was her seventh game this season (25th overall) with at least that many points. Her career scoring average of 16.0 points per game ranks 16th among active players with at least 1,000 total points. This season, Naismith Trophy Watch List honoree Wagner is scoring 18.3 points per game to lead the team and rank eighth in the conference.
3 Kenisha Bell is Minnesota's second leading scorer at 16.9 points per game (12th in the Big Ten), and has a slightly higher conference average than Wagner at 16.5 points per game early in the schedule. Bell ranks second in assists (5.6) and fourth in steals (2.2) this season. Bell has scored in double figures 14 times (every game she has played), tallied seven or more assists five times and notched three or more steals six times.
4 The Gophers continue to hold the best RPI rating of any Big Ten team. They are 26th (Jan. 3) and have been as high as 11th, with one of the toughest schedules in the country. Minnesota opened Big Ten play against the Big Ten's two highest-ranked teams in the AP poll, and kept it close with No. 4/3 Maryland on Sunday. The Gophers twice cut the Terrapins' lead to one point in the second half.
5 The Gophers boast a pair of shot-blocking threats in centers Jessie Edwards and Bryanna Fernstrom. 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. Fernstrom, who made her Minnesota debut at Ohio State, blocked five shots against Maryland in Sunday's game while playing a career-high 36 minutes.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
• Indiana is off to a 1-1 start in Big Ten play, beating Penn State and losing to Ohio State. The Hoosiers' 10 non-conference wins tied their program record.
• Teri Moren is in her third season at Indiana and 14th year as a head coach. She was the Big Ten Coach of the Year last season after guiding the Hoosiers to 21 wins.
• Tyra Buss is Indiana's leading scorer at 19.7 points per game. The junior ranks 13th on the Hoosiers' career scoring list and recently broke into the top 10 in career assists.
• Amanda Cahill (15.3) and Alexis Gassion (13.8)also average double figures, with Cahill pulling down 8.8 rebounds per game.
• The Hoosiers rank fifth nationally in field goal percentage (.498) and eighth in scoring (83.1).
COMING UP NEXT
Minnesota will host a Border Battle against Wisconsin on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m. Karley Barnes will be the featured Gopher in the postgame autograph session.
Players Mentioned
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