University of Minnesota Athletics
Game Preview: Gophers vs. Cal Poly
12/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 12, 2017
The University of Minnesota women's basketball team (9-2) will hold its annual field trip game Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 12 p.m. The Gophers host Cal Poly (4-4) in their penultimate non-conference contest.
Here are five things to know before tipoff:
1 Carlie Wagner and Kenisha Bell have been the Gophers' top two scorers for two seasons in a row. Bell, on the watch list for the Citizen Naismith Trophy (top player) and Nancy Lieberman Award (top point guard), leads the team with averages of 19.5 points and 5.8 assists per game. She scored 41 points on the two-game trip to Georgetown and San Diego. Wagner, a Preseason All-Big Ten honoree, scored 31 points on 12-of-14 shooting against the Hoyas. She is averaging 18.0 points per game, and is currently seventh on Minnesota's career scoring list (1,795) and second on the 3-point list (233).
2 Minnesota's scoring average of 84.2 points per game ranks second in the Big Ten and 19th in the nation. The Gophers' scoring margin (+15.3) is fifth in the conference, as is their rebounding margin (+7.1). They commit the second-fewest turnovers per game (12.6), ranking 17th nationally. Minnesota's 8.1 3-pointers per game rank second in the Big Ten.
3 The Gophers are 5-0 at Williams Arena this season entering Wednesday's game. They are 44-10 at home during head coach Marlene Stollings' tenure. Minnesota's 7-0 start overall this season was the third best in program history.
4 The Minnesota bench has provided major contributions in recent games. In the three-point loss at San Diego, Annalese Lamke scored a career-high eight points and helped give the Gophers a chance to win late. Taiye Bello tied her career high with 12 rebounds in that game. In Minnesota's most recent home game, against Eastern Michigan, Bello had 16 points and eight rebounds while Bryanna Fernstrom had 17 and 9 also off the bench.
5 Preseason All-Big Ten selection Wagner is a two-time All-Big Ten Second Team honoree. 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 MUSTANGS
• Cal Poly is 4-4 on the season. The Mustangs won three straight games before Monday's loss at Eastern Washington. They average 73.2 points per game while allowing 71.9.
• Head coach Faith Mimnaugh is in her 21st season in San Luis Obispo. She has guided the Mustangs to four postseason appearances since 2011.
• Senior guards and twin sisters Lynn (14.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Dynn Leaupepe (13.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) are the team's top scorers and rebounders. Both are in Cal Poly's career top 20 for scoring and top 15 for rebounding.
• Junior center Devin Stanback adds 12.3 points and 4.1 points per game and shoots 61.8 percent from the field.
| Minnesota vs. Cal Poly | |
| Date / Time | Wednesday, Dec. 13 // 12 p.m. |
| Location | Williams Arena - Directions |
| Tickets | Click Here |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| TV/Live Video | BTN // BTN2Go.com |
| Radio | 93.3 ALT FM // Listen Online // iHeart Radio App |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Minnesota // Cal Poly |
| Official Sites | Minnesota // Cal Poly |
| Social Media | @GopherWBB | Facebook | Instagram |
The University of Minnesota women's basketball team (9-2) will hold its annual field trip game Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 12 p.m. The Gophers host Cal Poly (4-4) in their penultimate non-conference contest.
Here are five things to know before tipoff:
1 Carlie Wagner and Kenisha Bell have been the Gophers' top two scorers for two seasons in a row. Bell, on the watch list for the Citizen Naismith Trophy (top player) and Nancy Lieberman Award (top point guard), leads the team with averages of 19.5 points and 5.8 assists per game. She scored 41 points on the two-game trip to Georgetown and San Diego. Wagner, a Preseason All-Big Ten honoree, scored 31 points on 12-of-14 shooting against the Hoyas. She is averaging 18.0 points per game, and is currently seventh on Minnesota's career scoring list (1,795) and second on the 3-point list (233).
2 Minnesota's scoring average of 84.2 points per game ranks second in the Big Ten and 19th in the nation. The Gophers' scoring margin (+15.3) is fifth in the conference, as is their rebounding margin (+7.1). They commit the second-fewest turnovers per game (12.6), ranking 17th nationally. Minnesota's 8.1 3-pointers per game rank second in the Big Ten.
3 The Gophers are 5-0 at Williams Arena this season entering Wednesday's game. They are 44-10 at home during head coach Marlene Stollings' tenure. Minnesota's 7-0 start overall this season was the third best in program history.
4 The Minnesota bench has provided major contributions in recent games. In the three-point loss at San Diego, Annalese Lamke scored a career-high eight points and helped give the Gophers a chance to win late. Taiye Bello tied her career high with 12 rebounds in that game. In Minnesota's most recent home game, against Eastern Michigan, Bello had 16 points and eight rebounds while Bryanna Fernstrom had 17 and 9 also off the bench.
5 Preseason All-Big Ten selection Wagner is a two-time All-Big Ten Second Team honoree. 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 MUSTANGS
• Cal Poly is 4-4 on the season. The Mustangs won three straight games before Monday's loss at Eastern Washington. They average 73.2 points per game while allowing 71.9.
• Head coach Faith Mimnaugh is in her 21st season in San Luis Obispo. She has guided the Mustangs to four postseason appearances since 2011.
• Senior guards and twin sisters Lynn (14.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Dynn Leaupepe (13.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) are the team's top scorers and rebounders. Both are in Cal Poly's career top 20 for scoring and top 15 for rebounding.
• Junior center Devin Stanback adds 12.3 points and 4.1 points per game and shoots 61.8 percent from the field.
Players Mentioned
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