University of Minnesota Athletics
Game Preview: Gophers vs. Xavier
11/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 21, 2017
The Golden Gophers (4-0) will play their first televised game of the season against Xavier (3-0) on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Minnesota, with two reigning Big Ten weekly award winners, is vying for its best five-game start in 10 years.
Here are five things to know before tipoff:
1 The Golden Gophers have started a program-record four consecutive seasons at least 4-0. A win Wednesday would give them their first start of 5-0 or better in 10 years, and would equal the program's fourth-best undefeated start to a season.
2 On Monday Kenisha Bell was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week, while Destiny Pitts received Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades. Bell is the Gophers' first Player of the Week since Rachel Banham earned that title Feb. 22, 2016. She recorded double-doubles (two point/rebound, one point/assist) with at least 20 points in each of the last three games and leads the team with a 21.3-point scoring average. Bell poured in a career-high 31 points Sunday against Boston College, including 16 in the first quarter. Bell's assist turnover ratio of 3.1 (fourth in the Big Ten) and assist average of 7.8 per game (first in the Big Ten, 12th in the nation) rate highly through Sunday's games.
3 Pitts has double-doubles in both of the last two games and made her first career start against Boston College. She is averaging a double-double through her first four games at 13.3 ppg and 12.0 rpg. Before Pitts, Amanda Zahui B. in 2013-14 was the most recent Minnesota freshman to grab 15-plus boards. Zahui B. was also the most recent Gophers freshman to record more than one double-double. (She had 18.)
4 Minnesota is 20-9 all-time against BIG EAST teams. The Gophers were 2-0 against BIG EAST opponents last season (Georgetown and Seton Hall). Both of those wins are part of the Maroon and Gold's 42-10 home record under head coach Marlene Stollings.
5 Carlie Wagner, a two-time All-Big Ten Second Team honoree, was on the All-Big Ten Preseason Team. Bell (2017 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention) is on the Nancy Lieberman Award (nation's top point guard) watch list. Since Stollings' arrival, the Gophers have had two Big Ten Players of the Year (Amanda Zahui B. 2015, Rachel Banham 2016), three First Team selections, two consensus Second Team selections, one All-Freshman award and one Honorable Mention. Zahui B. and Banham went on to make Minnesota the only team besides UConn to have top-five picks in both their years' WNBA Drafts.
SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
• Xavier is 3-0 this season with wins against New Hampshire, Mount St. Mary's and Grambling.
• Coach Brian Neal is in his fifth year as the Musketeers' head coach. He guided them to a postseason appearance in the WBI in 2014-15.
• Senior Jada Byrd (12.7 points per game) and junior Imani Partlow (12.3 ppg) are the team's leading scorers, and Partlow adds 8.3 rebounds per game.
• Xavier has nine underclassmen on the roster, including six true freshmen. Aaliyah Dunham is currently the freshmen's top scorer at 10.7 ppg.
• The Musketeers average 69.7 points per contest and have limited opponents to 59.3 ppg.
• Xavier has made 10 3-pointers in two of its games so far this season.
| Minnesota vs. Xavier | |
| Date / Time | Wednesday, Nov. 22 // 8 p.m. |
| Location | Williams Arena - Directions |
| Tickets | Click Here // Love Your Melon Package |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| TV/Live Video | BTN // BTN2Go |
| Radio | 93.3 ALT FM // Listen Online // iHeart Radio App |
| Live Stats | |
| Live Updates | Game Day Live |
| Game Notes | Minnesota // Xavier |
| Official Sites | Minnesota // Xavier |
| Social Media | @GopherWBB | Facebook | Instagram |
The Golden Gophers (4-0) will play their first televised game of the season against Xavier (3-0) on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Minnesota, with two reigning Big Ten weekly award winners, is vying for its best five-game start in 10 years.
Here are five things to know before tipoff:
1 The Golden Gophers have started a program-record four consecutive seasons at least 4-0. A win Wednesday would give them their first start of 5-0 or better in 10 years, and would equal the program's fourth-best undefeated start to a season.
2 On Monday Kenisha Bell was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Week, while Destiny Pitts received Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades. Bell is the Gophers' first Player of the Week since Rachel Banham earned that title Feb. 22, 2016. She recorded double-doubles (two point/rebound, one point/assist) with at least 20 points in each of the last three games and leads the team with a 21.3-point scoring average. Bell poured in a career-high 31 points Sunday against Boston College, including 16 in the first quarter. Bell's assist turnover ratio of 3.1 (fourth in the Big Ten) and assist average of 7.8 per game (first in the Big Ten, 12th in the nation) rate highly through Sunday's games.
3 Pitts has double-doubles in both of the last two games and made her first career start against Boston College. She is averaging a double-double through her first four games at 13.3 ppg and 12.0 rpg. Before Pitts, Amanda Zahui B. in 2013-14 was the most recent Minnesota freshman to grab 15-plus boards. Zahui B. was also the most recent Gophers freshman to record more than one double-double. (She had 18.)
4 Minnesota is 20-9 all-time against BIG EAST teams. The Gophers were 2-0 against BIG EAST opponents last season (Georgetown and Seton Hall). Both of those wins are part of the Maroon and Gold's 42-10 home record under head coach Marlene Stollings.
5 Carlie Wagner, a two-time All-Big Ten Second Team honoree, was on the All-Big Ten Preseason Team. Bell (2017 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention) is on the Nancy Lieberman Award (nation's top point guard) watch list. Since Stollings' arrival, the Gophers have had two Big Ten Players of the Year (Amanda Zahui B. 2015, Rachel Banham 2016), three First Team selections, two consensus Second Team selections, one All-Freshman award and one Honorable Mention. Zahui B. and Banham went on to make Minnesota the only team besides UConn to have top-five picks in both their years' WNBA Drafts.
SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
• Xavier is 3-0 this season with wins against New Hampshire, Mount St. Mary's and Grambling.
• Coach Brian Neal is in his fifth year as the Musketeers' head coach. He guided them to a postseason appearance in the WBI in 2014-15.
• Senior Jada Byrd (12.7 points per game) and junior Imani Partlow (12.3 ppg) are the team's leading scorers, and Partlow adds 8.3 rebounds per game.
• Xavier has nine underclassmen on the roster, including six true freshmen. Aaliyah Dunham is currently the freshmen's top scorer at 10.7 ppg.
• The Musketeers average 69.7 points per contest and have limited opponents to 59.3 ppg.
• Xavier has made 10 3-pointers in two of its games so far this season.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's BasketballComing Home: Carlie Wagner Olstad
Monday, February 23
Highlights: Gophers 61, Michigan State 75
Sunday, February 22
Cinematic Recap: #23 Gophers-#10 Buckeyes
Friday, February 20
Postgame Reaction: Gophers Top #10 OSU
Wednesday, February 18