University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, December 28
Williams Arena
8:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Wisconsin
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Border Battle Kicks Off Big Ten Play Friday
12/27/2018 11:37:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- No. 12/15 (AP/Coaches) Minnesota (11-0) opens conference play Friday night when it hosts Wisconsin (9-3) at 8 p.m.
The game will be available to a national audience on Big Ten Network and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• One of nine teams in the country still undefeated, the Golden Gophers are looking to start 12-0 for the third time in program history. The only other starts of that length came in 2003-04 (15-0) and 2002-03 (12-0), head coach Lindsay Whalen's senior and junior seasons, respectively. A win Friday would tie Whalen with her former coach, Pam Borton, for the most wins without a loss to open a career at Minnesota.
• The current 11-game win streak for Minnesota is the fifth longest in program history and the longest since the team's program-record 15-game streak that opened the 2003-04 season. The 11-game streak is tied for the fourth longest active run in the country behind Louisville, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech, each winners of 12 in a row.
• Minnesota is 14-22 all-time in Big Ten openers and 17-19 in conference home openers. This season will be just the third time that Minnesota opens league action against Wisconsin. The other times came in 1998-99 and 2008-09 with the Badgers prevailing in both games in Madison.
• The Gophers have won all nine home games this season, marking the ninth longest home win streak in program history. Dating to last season, the team has won 15 of its past 16 contests at Williams Arena, including four Top-25 wins. All-time, Minnesota boasts a .698 winning percentage at The Barn (347-150).
• Minnesota enters Friday's game ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll, the team's highest ranking since being ranked 11th on Feb. 6, 2006. The Gophers are 15-5 all-time as the No. 12 team in the AP Poll and have won four straight games when holding that ranking. In addition, the Gophers are 8-2 against Wisconsin when ranked. Minnesota was also No. 15 in the Coaches Poll, its highest ranking in that poll since also coming in at No. 10 on Feb. 6, 2006.
SERIES HISTORY WITH WISCONSIN
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER RHODE ISLAND
• Four Gophers scored in double figures and Minnesota finished undefeated in non-conference play for the third time ever with a 91-71 win over Rhode Island.
• As a team, the Gophers' 91 points were a season high, bettering the 84 points against both Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Coppin State.
• Kenisha Bell led all scorers with a season-high 28 points. She nearly pulled off the sixth triple-double in program history as she posted a season-best nine assists and added seven rebounds
• Taiye Bello notched her sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds. She also tied a career-high with five steals. Destiny Pitts (19) and Annalese Lamke (14) also reached double figures.
• The turning point of the game came early in the second quarter as Minnesota went on a 17-0 run over 6:14 to turn a 19-17 lead into a 36-17 advantage.
• The Golden Gophers currently rank third in the Big Ten and 14th in the country in scoring defense by allowing just 53.1 points per game. For comparison, last season Minnesota finished the year ranked 335th by allowing 74.8 points per game.
• Additionally, the Gophers are 13th in the country in rebounds per game (45.18), 16th in both rebound margin (11.6) and scoring margin (+21.1), 17th in defensive rebounds per game (30), and 18th in opponent field goal percentage (33.8).
• Some advanced metrics, via HerHoopStats.com, also illustrate how strong the Gopher defense has been this year. Minnesota is fifth in the nation in opponent points per play (shots+/FT trips+turnover) at 0.63, sixth in opponent points per 100 possessions at 74.2, seventh in opponent points per scoring attempt (shots+FT trips) at 0.81, 14th in opponent field goal percentage on two-pointers at 36.2, and 16th in opponent effective FG% (accounts for the value of 3-point shots: (FG + 0.5*3P) / FGA)) at 38.0%.
• The 1976-77 season (15 games) was the last time the Gophers went at least 10 games into a season without giving up at least 70 points in a game.
• 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 a national audience on Big Ten Network and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• One of nine teams in the country still undefeated, the Golden Gophers are looking to start 12-0 for the third time in program history. The only other starts of that length came in 2003-04 (15-0) and 2002-03 (12-0), head coach Lindsay Whalen's senior and junior seasons, respectively. A win Friday would tie Whalen with her former coach, Pam Borton, for the most wins without a loss to open a career at Minnesota.
• The current 11-game win streak for Minnesota is the fifth longest in program history and the longest since the team's program-record 15-game streak that opened the 2003-04 season. The 11-game streak is tied for the fourth longest active run in the country behind Louisville, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech, each winners of 12 in a row.
• Minnesota is 14-22 all-time in Big Ten openers and 17-19 in conference home openers. This season will be just the third time that Minnesota opens league action against Wisconsin. The other times came in 1998-99 and 2008-09 with the Badgers prevailing in both games in Madison.
• The Gophers have won all nine home games this season, marking the ninth longest home win streak in program history. Dating to last season, the team has won 15 of its past 16 contests at Williams Arena, including four Top-25 wins. All-time, Minnesota boasts a .698 winning percentage at The Barn (347-150).
• Minnesota enters Friday's game ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll, the team's highest ranking since being ranked 11th on Feb. 6, 2006. The Gophers are 15-5 all-time as the No. 12 team in the AP Poll and have won four straight games when holding that ranking. In addition, the Gophers are 8-2 against Wisconsin when ranked. Minnesota was also No. 15 in the Coaches Poll, its highest ranking in that poll since also coming in at No. 10 on Feb. 6, 2006.
SERIES HISTORY WITH WISCONSIN
• Minnesota and Wisconsin meet for the 76th time on Friday. The only other team the Golden Gophers have faced more is Iowa (77). The Gophers hold a 40-35 edge in the series with the Badgers, marking their most wins against another team (second is 36 wins vs. Indiana, followed by 35 wins vs. Michigan and Northwestern).
• The Gophers have won the last 11 matchups against the Badgers. That 11-game win streak is the longest for either team in the series and the longest active streak for Minnesota against another team ahead of Northern Iowa (10), Santa Clara (5) and seven other teams (4).
• In her playing career, Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen was 4-3 against Wisconsin. She averaged 20.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game, while shooting 48.2 percent from the floor, 30.4 percent on 3-pointers and .805 from the free throw line.
LAST SEASON VS. WISCONSIN
• Minnesota won both games last season against Wisconsin, winning 90-65 in Minneapolis on Jan. 18 and 71-61 in Madison on Jan. 31.
• In the win in Minneapolis, the Gophers got double-doubles from Destiny Pitts and Taiye Bello as Pitts posted 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Bello got went for 13 points and 13 boards. Pitts and Bello were two of five Golden Gophers in double figures, all of whom were led by Kenisha Bell and her game-high 24 points, 16 of which came in the second quarter.
• The game was tied at 9-9 early on, but the Golden Gophers broke it open with a 15-3 run over a six-minute stretch and never looked back. Up 24-15 after the first quarter, it was a 10-2 run to start the second stanza that extended the Gophers' lead even further and put the game out of reach.
• In Madison, Gadiva Hubbard led all scorers with a game-high 22 points, while Carlie Wagner added 20 of her own and Bell posted 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Minnesota never trailed in the win.
• The Gophers have won the last 11 matchups against the Badgers. That 11-game win streak is the longest for either team in the series and the longest active streak for Minnesota against another team ahead of Northern Iowa (10), Santa Clara (5) and seven other teams (4).
• In her playing career, Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen was 4-3 against Wisconsin. She averaged 20.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game, while shooting 48.2 percent from the floor, 30.4 percent on 3-pointers and .805 from the free throw line.
LAST SEASON VS. WISCONSIN
• Minnesota won both games last season against Wisconsin, winning 90-65 in Minneapolis on Jan. 18 and 71-61 in Madison on Jan. 31.
• In the win in Minneapolis, the Gophers got double-doubles from Destiny Pitts and Taiye Bello as Pitts posted 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Bello got went for 13 points and 13 boards. Pitts and Bello were two of five Golden Gophers in double figures, all of whom were led by Kenisha Bell and her game-high 24 points, 16 of which came in the second quarter.
• The game was tied at 9-9 early on, but the Golden Gophers broke it open with a 15-3 run over a six-minute stretch and never looked back. Up 24-15 after the first quarter, it was a 10-2 run to start the second stanza that extended the Gophers' lead even further and put the game out of reach.
• In Madison, Gadiva Hubbard led all scorers with a game-high 22 points, while Carlie Wagner added 20 of her own and Bell posted 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Minnesota never trailed in the win.
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER RHODE ISLAND
• Four Gophers scored in double figures and Minnesota finished undefeated in non-conference play for the third time ever with a 91-71 win over Rhode Island.
• As a team, the Gophers' 91 points were a season high, bettering the 84 points against both Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Coppin State.
• Kenisha Bell led all scorers with a season-high 28 points. She nearly pulled off the sixth triple-double in program history as she posted a season-best nine assists and added seven rebounds
• Taiye Bello notched her sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds. She also tied a career-high with five steals. Destiny Pitts (19) and Annalese Lamke (14) also reached double figures.
• The turning point of the game came early in the second quarter as Minnesota went on a 17-0 run over 6:14 to turn a 19-17 lead into a 36-17 advantage.
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 11-0.• The Golden Gophers currently rank third in the Big Ten and 14th in the country in scoring defense by allowing just 53.1 points per game. For comparison, last season Minnesota finished the year ranked 335th by allowing 74.8 points per game.
• Additionally, the Gophers are 13th in the country in rebounds per game (45.18), 16th in both rebound margin (11.6) and scoring margin (+21.1), 17th in defensive rebounds per game (30), and 18th in opponent field goal percentage (33.8).
• Some advanced metrics, via HerHoopStats.com, also illustrate how strong the Gopher defense has been this year. Minnesota is fifth in the nation in opponent points per play (shots+/FT trips+turnover) at 0.63, sixth in opponent points per 100 possessions at 74.2, seventh in opponent points per scoring attempt (shots+FT trips) at 0.81, 14th in opponent field goal percentage on two-pointers at 36.2, and 16th in opponent effective FG% (accounts for the value of 3-point shots: (FG + 0.5*3P) / FGA)) at 38.0%.
• The 1976-77 season (15 games) was the last time the Gophers went at least 10 games into a season without giving up at least 70 points in a game.
• 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 Wednesday's games, Taiye Bello was second in the country in offensive rebounds per game (6), third in total rebounds per game (13.4) and and fifth in total rebounds (147). She is also 20th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (8) and 21st in double-doubles (6).
• 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 13.4 this year. The +7.1 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 6.4 per game (+5.7).
• 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 10 in her career, with Minnesota going 10-0 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 13.4 this year. The +7.1 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 6.4 per game (+5.7).
• 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 10 in her career, with Minnesota going 10-0 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.
PITTS' PERFORMANCE PICKS UP
• Destiny Pitts' numbers have improved noticeably over the last four games compared to the first seven. 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 and posted 19 points vs. Rhode Island on Dec. 22.
GOPHERS PLAYING WITH THE LEAD
• The Golden Gophers have spent very little time playing from behind this season. Of the 440 minutes played through 11 games, Minnesota has played with the lead for a total of 381:37 and trailed for just 38:12.
• In five the games this year the Gophers have led wire-to-wire. Most 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), Rhode Island (2:06), Air Force (1:38) and Coppin State (0:53).
• In five the games this year the Gophers have led wire-to-wire. Most 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), Rhode Island (2:06), Air Force (1:38) and Coppin State (0:53).
MINNESOTA NEAR THE TOP IN ATTENDANCE
• Through nine home games, the Gophers have had a total attendance of 50,059 with an average of 5,562 per contest. Through Wednesday, the team ranks fifth 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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