University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, December 22
Williams Arena
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Rhode Island
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Non-Conference Wraps Up with Rhode Island Saturday
12/21/2018 1:32:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- No. 13/16 (AP/Coaches) Minnesota (10-0) plays in its final non-conference game Saturday afternoon when it hosts Rhode Island (5-5) at 3 p.m.
The game will be available to stream online on BTN Plus and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• One of 11 teams in the country still undefeated, the Golden Gophers are looking to start 11-0 for the third time in program history. The only better undefeated starts came in 2003-04 (15-0) and 2002-03 (12-0), head coach Lindsay Whalen's senior and junior seasons, respectively. Additionally, those are the only two previous seasons where Minnesota has gone undefeated in non-conference play. Whalen is just one of two coaches in program history to win her first five games. The other to do it was her former coach, Pam Borton, whose first season was in 2002-03.
• The team's current 10-game win streak is tied for the fifth longest in program history and is the longest since a 10-game streak that lasted from Nov. of 2014 to Jan. of 2015. Nationally, it's tied for the fifth longest active win streak behind Louisville, which has won 12 straight, as well as Maryland, N.C. State and Virginia Tech, all winners of 11 in a row.
• Minnesota enters Saturday's game ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll for the second straight week. Boasting a 7-2 record all-time as the No. 13 team, it's the team's highest ranking since being ranked 11th on Feb. 6, 2006. In addition, Minnesota was No. 16 in the Coaches Poll for the second week in a row, its highest ranking since also coming in at No. 16 on Feb. 13, 2006.
• The Gophers have won all eight home games this season. Dating to last season, the team has won 14 of its past 15 contests at Williams Arena, including four Top-25 wins. All-time, Minnesota boasts a .698 winning percentage at The Barn (346-150).
• Sophomore Destiny Pitts has been shooting the lights out over her last three games. She made 5-of-9 3-pointers against Incarnate Word on Dec. 5, then posted a career-high 35 points at Boston College on Dec. 9 by making 9-of-13 from the floor, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range and 11-of-12 at the free throw line. She followed that by making all five shots, including all four 3-point tries, vs. Coppin State on Dec. 12. After a relatively slow start to the season (by her standards), Pitts has been on fire in the last three games, shooting over 70 percent from the floor, over 71 percent from 3-point range and over 91 percent from the free throw line.
SERIES HISTORY WITH RHODE ISLAND
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER COPPIN STATE
• Kenisha Bell was one of three in double figures for Minnesota, leading all scorers with 20 points in an 84-52 win over Coppin State. Bell was 7-of-12 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line, adding five assists and four steals.
• Destiny Pitts continued her hot shooting by making all five shots to finish with 14 points and four rebounds, while Taiye Bello notched her fifth double double of the season as she poured in 13 points and 11 rebounds.
• The 84 points matched the season high scored against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 20, while the team's 31 made field goals, nine made 3-pointers and 23 assists were all season bests.
• Leading 29-19 after the first quarter, Minnesota upped the defense in the second quarter as it limited the Eagles to just seven points on 2-of-15 (.133) shooting. The Gophers led 50-26 at the half; the 50 points marked their most points in any half this season.
• The Golden Gophers currently rank second in the Big Ten and 10th in the country in scoring defense by allowing just 51.3 points per game. For comparison, last season Minnesota finished the year ranked 335th by allowing 74.8 points per game.
• Additionally, the Gophers are 10th in the country in opponent field goal percentage (32.7), 11th in rebounds per game (45.7), 13th in defensive rebounds per game (31), 15th in rebound margin (11.5) and 20th in scoring margin (+21.2).
• Some of the advanced metrics, via HerHoopStats.com, also illustrate how strong the Gopher defense has been this year. Minnesota is second in the nation in opponent points per scoring attempt (shots+FT trips) at 0.78 and opponent points per play (shots+/FT trips+turnover) at 0.61, third in opponent points per 100 possessions at 72.5, fifth in opponent effective FG% (accounts for the value of 3-point shots: (FG + 0.5*3P) / FGA)) at 36.8% and sixth in opponent field goal percentage on two-pointers at 34.8.
• The 513 points allowed by Minnesota through the first 10 games of the season is the lowest opponent point total since 1976-77 (485).
• The 1976-77 season is also the last time the Gophers went this far into a season without giving up at least 70 points in a game. It took until the 15th game that year.
• When the Gophers beat Incarnate Word, 75-39, on Dec. 5 it was the first time since Nov. 26, 2013, that they had held an opponent under 40 points.
• The Gophers held their first five opponents to 53 points or fewer, the longest stretch of such games since the 2004-05 season when they also did it in five straight.
The game will be available to stream online on BTN Plus and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• One of 11 teams in the country still undefeated, the Golden Gophers are looking to start 11-0 for the third time in program history. The only better undefeated starts came in 2003-04 (15-0) and 2002-03 (12-0), head coach Lindsay Whalen's senior and junior seasons, respectively. Additionally, those are the only two previous seasons where Minnesota has gone undefeated in non-conference play. Whalen is just one of two coaches in program history to win her first five games. The other to do it was her former coach, Pam Borton, whose first season was in 2002-03.
• The team's current 10-game win streak is tied for the fifth longest in program history and is the longest since a 10-game streak that lasted from Nov. of 2014 to Jan. of 2015. Nationally, it's tied for the fifth longest active win streak behind Louisville, which has won 12 straight, as well as Maryland, N.C. State and Virginia Tech, all winners of 11 in a row.
• Minnesota enters Saturday's game ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll for the second straight week. Boasting a 7-2 record all-time as the No. 13 team, it's the team's highest ranking since being ranked 11th on Feb. 6, 2006. In addition, Minnesota was No. 16 in the Coaches Poll for the second week in a row, its highest ranking since also coming in at No. 16 on Feb. 13, 2006.
• The Gophers have won all eight home games this season. Dating to last season, the team has won 14 of its past 15 contests at Williams Arena, including four Top-25 wins. All-time, Minnesota boasts a .698 winning percentage at The Barn (346-150).
• Sophomore Destiny Pitts has been shooting the lights out over her last three games. She made 5-of-9 3-pointers against Incarnate Word on Dec. 5, then posted a career-high 35 points at Boston College on Dec. 9 by making 9-of-13 from the floor, including 6-of-8 from 3-point range and 11-of-12 at the free throw line. She followed that by making all five shots, including all four 3-point tries, vs. Coppin State on Dec. 12. After a relatively slow start to the season (by her standards), Pitts has been on fire in the last three games, shooting over 70 percent from the floor, over 71 percent from 3-point range and over 91 percent from the free throw line.
SERIES HISTORY WITH RHODE ISLAND
• Minnesota and Rhode Island will meet for the second straight season and third time overall on Saturday. The Golden Gophers have won both previous meetings: a 90-78 neutral-site win in Dec. of 1979 and an 82-60 victory a year ago in Kingston, R.I.
• In last season's matchup, Kenisha Bell nearly notched a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Carlie Wagner scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half. In addition, Jessie Edwards tallied 10 points, while Jasmine Brunson had nine and Gadiva Hubbard added eight.
• Destiny Pitts pulled down 15 rebounds along with her seven points to lead Minnesota's 61-33 advantage on the glass. After Pitts and Bell, Palma Kaposi was third with eight boards.
• In last season's matchup, Kenisha Bell nearly notched a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Carlie Wagner scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half. In addition, Jessie Edwards tallied 10 points, while Jasmine Brunson had nine and Gadiva Hubbard added eight.
• Destiny Pitts pulled down 15 rebounds along with her seven points to lead Minnesota's 61-33 advantage on the glass. After Pitts and Bell, Palma Kaposi was third with eight boards.
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER COPPIN STATE
• Kenisha Bell was one of three in double figures for Minnesota, leading all scorers with 20 points in an 84-52 win over Coppin State. Bell was 7-of-12 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line, adding five assists and four steals.
• Destiny Pitts continued her hot shooting by making all five shots to finish with 14 points and four rebounds, while Taiye Bello notched her fifth double double of the season as she poured in 13 points and 11 rebounds.
• The 84 points matched the season high scored against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 20, while the team's 31 made field goals, nine made 3-pointers and 23 assists were all season bests.
• Leading 29-19 after the first quarter, Minnesota upped the defense in the second quarter as it limited the Eagles to just seven points on 2-of-15 (.133) shooting. The Gophers led 50-26 at the half; the 50 points marked their most points in any half this season.
GOPHERS DEFENSE STRONG TO START SEASON
• Minnesota's scoring defense has been stellar so far this season and is a big reason the team is 10-0.• The Golden Gophers currently rank second in the Big Ten and 10th in the country in scoring defense by allowing just 51.3 points per game. For comparison, last season Minnesota finished the year ranked 335th by allowing 74.8 points per game.
• Additionally, the Gophers are 10th in the country in opponent field goal percentage (32.7), 11th in rebounds per game (45.7), 13th in defensive rebounds per game (31), 15th in rebound margin (11.5) and 20th in scoring margin (+21.2).
• Some of the advanced metrics, via HerHoopStats.com, also illustrate how strong the Gopher defense has been this year. Minnesota is second in the nation in opponent points per scoring attempt (shots+FT trips) at 0.78 and opponent points per play (shots+/FT trips+turnover) at 0.61, third in opponent points per 100 possessions at 72.5, fifth in opponent effective FG% (accounts for the value of 3-point shots: (FG + 0.5*3P) / FGA)) at 36.8% and sixth in opponent field goal percentage on two-pointers at 34.8.
• The 513 points allowed by Minnesota through the first 10 games of the season is the lowest opponent point total since 1976-77 (485).
• The 1976-77 season is also the last time the Gophers went this far into a season without giving up at least 70 points in a game. It took until the 15th game that year.
• When the Gophers beat Incarnate Word, 75-39, on Dec. 5 it was the first time since Nov. 26, 2013, that they had held an opponent under 40 points.
• The Gophers held their first five opponents to 53 points or fewer, the longest stretch of such games since the 2004-05 season when they also did it in five straight.
BELLO DOMINATING THE GLASS
• Through Thursday's games, Taiye Bello was third in the country in total rebounds per game (13.2) and offensive rebounds per game (6), and fourth in total rebounds (132). She is also 21st nationally in defensive rebounds per game (8) and 25th in double-doubles (5).
• Bello is the only player in the country to have four games this year with at least 18 rebounds.
• The junior is also currently the most improved rebounder in the Big Ten, upping her rebounds per game total from 6.3 last year to 13.2 this year. The +6.9 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 6.6 per game (+5.9).
• She posted double-doubles in the first three games this season. She was the first Minnesota player to have three straight double-doubles since Amanda Zahui B. ended the 2014-15 season with four in a row. Bello has nine in her career, with Minnesota going 9-0 in those games.
• Though she didn't have a double-double against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, she did have a career-high 19 rebounds, which were the most by a Gopher since Zahui B. had 22 against DePaul in the NCAA Tournament on March 20, 2015.
• Arguably Bello's best performance came against No. 12 Syracuse when she went for a career-high 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, including 10 offensive.
• She followed that with 18 rebounds against Air Force, 10 of which came in the first quarter.
• Bello is the only player in the country to have four games this year with at least 18 rebounds.
• The junior is also currently the most improved rebounder in the Big Ten, upping her rebounds per game total from 6.3 last year to 13.2 this year. The +6.9 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 6.6 per game (+5.9).
• She posted double-doubles in the first three games this season. She was the first Minnesota player to have three straight double-doubles since Amanda Zahui B. ended the 2014-15 season with four in a row. Bello has nine in her career, with Minnesota going 9-0 in those games.
• Though she didn't have a double-double against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, she did have a career-high 19 rebounds, which were the most by a Gopher since Zahui B. had 22 against DePaul in the NCAA Tournament on March 20, 2015.
• Arguably Bello's best performance came against No. 12 Syracuse when she went for a career-high 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, including 10 offensive.
• She followed that with 18 rebounds against Air Force, 10 of which came in the first quarter.
GOPHERS PLAYING WITH THE LEAD
• The Golden Gophers have spent very little time playing from behind this season. Of the 400 minutes played through nine games this year, Minnesota has played with the lead for 346:43 and trailed for just a total of 36:06.
• In half the games this year the Gophers have led wire-to-wire. The majority of the team's time trailing came against San Diego (20:13), while the rest was versus Boston College (10:15), No. 12 Syracuse (3:07) Air Force (1:38) and Coppin State (0:53).
• In half the games this year the Gophers have led wire-to-wire. The majority of the team's time trailing came against San Diego (20:13), while the rest was versus Boston College (10:15), No. 12 Syracuse (3:07) Air Force (1:38) and Coppin State (0:53).
MINNESOTA NEAR THE TOP IN ATTENDANCE
• In eight home games, the Gophers have had a total attendance of 44,835 with an average of 5,604 per game. Through Thursday, the team ranks sixth in the country in total attendance and No. 11 in average.
• Minnesota opened the 2018-19 season with a 70-47 win over New Hampshire on Nov. 9. The announced sellout crowd of 14,625 was a program record, surpassing the previous high of 14,363 set during Lindsay Whalen's senior season in 2004. Four of the top five marks in team history, and eight of the top 10, have come with Whalen as player or coach.
• The season-opening sellout also stands as the highest attendance mark for any women's game this season by at least 800 people and over 3,000 more than third.
• Minnesota opened the 2018-19 season with a 70-47 win over New Hampshire on Nov. 9. The announced sellout crowd of 14,625 was a program record, surpassing the previous high of 14,363 set during Lindsay Whalen's senior season in 2004. Four of the top five marks in team history, and eight of the top 10, have come with Whalen as player or coach.
• The season-opening sellout also stands as the highest attendance mark for any women's game this season by at least 800 people and over 3,000 more than third.
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