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University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, January 17
Madison, Wis.
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Wisconsin
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Visit Badgers Thursday Night
1/16/2019 3:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- No. 23/25 (AP/Coaches) Minnesota (12-4, 1-4 B1G) renews its Border Battle rivalry with a visit to Madison to face Wisconsin (10-7, 1-4) Thursday night at 7 p.m. CT.
The game will be streamed on BTN Plus and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
SERIES HISTORY WITH WISCONSIN
LAST MEETING AGAINST THE BADGERS
• 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.
• At Michigan, she made all nine attempts from the floor for a career-high 24 points. She became one of five players in Gophers history to not miss when attempting at least that many shots.
• She also had her first B1G double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Iowa.
DEFENSE IMPROVES FROM LAST SEASON
The game will be streamed on BTN Plus and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Thursday will be the second meeting between the teams this year. The schools opened conference play against one another on Dec. 28 with Minnesota prevailing in Minneapolis, 74-56, over Wisconsin.
• Minnesota enters Thursday's game ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll. It's the second time this season the Gophers have had that ranking, also coming in 23rd on Nov. 19. The Gophers are 5-3 all-time as the No. 23 team, including wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Cornell and a loss to Iowa this season. Minnesota is 9-2 all-time against Wisconsin when ranked in the AP Poll. Minnesota is also No. 25 in the most recent Coaches Poll, the sixth straight week is has appeared in the poll.
• The Gophers are 2-2 in road games this season. They won both their non-conference matchups, winning at Xavier in the second game of the season on Nov. 14 and at Boston College on Dec. 9. Within conference play, Minnesota has dropped contests at Michigan on Dec. 31 and Michigan State on Jan. 9. Sophomore Destiny Pitts leads the Gophers with a 16.3 scoring average in road games this year.
• Few teams in the country get to the free throw line more than Minnesota. Through Tuesday's games, the Golden Gophers ranked third in the NCAA behind only Arkansas State (425) and Mississippi State (401) with 398 attempts, while their 270 makes rank fifth nationally. Kenisha Bell has been the most prolific free throw shooter for Minnesota, ranking sixth nationally in attempts with 125 and ninth with 85 makes. Additionally, Pitts is ninth in the conference in free throw percentage (77.2), while Annalese Lamke ranks 11th in the Big Ten in both free throw percentage (76.5) and free throws made (52).
• With a 41-35 all-time record against Wisconsin, Minnesota has more wins against the Badgers than any other program. In Madison, Minnesota trails 16-18, but those 16 wins are its most road wins against any other school, ahead of its 14 wins at Indiana, Michigan and Northwestern.
• Minnesota enters Thursday's game ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll. It's the second time this season the Gophers have had that ranking, also coming in 23rd on Nov. 19. The Gophers are 5-3 all-time as the No. 23 team, including wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Cornell and a loss to Iowa this season. Minnesota is 9-2 all-time against Wisconsin when ranked in the AP Poll. Minnesota is also No. 25 in the most recent Coaches Poll, the sixth straight week is has appeared in the poll.
• The Gophers are 2-2 in road games this season. They won both their non-conference matchups, winning at Xavier in the second game of the season on Nov. 14 and at Boston College on Dec. 9. Within conference play, Minnesota has dropped contests at Michigan on Dec. 31 and Michigan State on Jan. 9. Sophomore Destiny Pitts leads the Gophers with a 16.3 scoring average in road games this year.
• Few teams in the country get to the free throw line more than Minnesota. Through Tuesday's games, the Golden Gophers ranked third in the NCAA behind only Arkansas State (425) and Mississippi State (401) with 398 attempts, while their 270 makes rank fifth nationally. Kenisha Bell has been the most prolific free throw shooter for Minnesota, ranking sixth nationally in attempts with 125 and ninth with 85 makes. Additionally, Pitts is ninth in the conference in free throw percentage (77.2), while Annalese Lamke ranks 11th in the Big Ten in both free throw percentage (76.5) and free throws made (52).
• With a 41-35 all-time record against Wisconsin, Minnesota has more wins against the Badgers than any other program. In Madison, Minnesota trails 16-18, but those 16 wins are its most road wins against any other school, ahead of its 14 wins at Indiana, Michigan and Northwestern.
SERIES HISTORY WITH WISCONSIN
• Minnesota and Wisconsin meet for the 77th time on Thursday. The only other team the Golden Gophers have faced more is Iowa (78).
• The Gophers have won the last 12 matchups against the Badgers. That 12-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).
• The Gophers have won five in a row in Madison, not losing at the Kohl Center since Jan. 9, 2011. The five-game road win streak in the series is tied for Minnesota's longest versus one school along with five in a row at Northern Iowa.
• Minnesota has one Wisconsin native on its roster in senior Annalese Lamke, who is from Galesville (Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau HS), which is about two and a half hours northwest of Madison.
• Wisconsin has three Minnesotans on its roster: Carmen Backes from Lindstrom (Chisago Lakes HS), Courtney Fredrickson from Minnetonka (Minnetonka HS) and Suzanne Gilreath from Brooklyn Park (Fridley HS).
• 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.
• The Gophers have won the last 12 matchups against the Badgers. That 12-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).
• The Gophers have won five in a row in Madison, not losing at the Kohl Center since Jan. 9, 2011. The five-game road win streak in the series is tied for Minnesota's longest versus one school along with five in a row at Northern Iowa.
• Minnesota has one Wisconsin native on its roster in senior Annalese Lamke, who is from Galesville (Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau HS), which is about two and a half hours northwest of Madison.
• Wisconsin has three Minnesotans on its roster: Carmen Backes from Lindstrom (Chisago Lakes HS), Courtney Fredrickson from Minnetonka (Minnetonka HS) and Suzanne Gilreath from Brooklyn Park (Fridley HS).
• 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 MEETING AGAINST THE BADGERS
• A dominant first quarter set the tone as Minnesota topped Wisconsin for the 12th straight time with a 74-56 win in the Big Ten opener for both teams on Dec. 28.
• Annalese Lamke led all scorers with 20 points, one off her career high. She was 6-of-7 from the floor and 8-of-10 at the free throw line, setting career highs in free throw makes and attemptes.
• Kenisha Bell notched her first double-double of the season with 17 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. She also had five assists and two steals.
• Destiny Pitts was the third Gopher to reach double figures, contributing 13 points. She also had four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Minnesota set the tone in the first quarter, outscoring Wisconsin 17-7. They held the Badgers to 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) shooting and outscored them 11-2 over the game's first eight minutes.
• The Gophers led 20-7 early in the second quarter, but Wisconsin used a 7-0 run over a 2:30 span to cut the lead to 20-14. That would be the closest it would get the rest of the way as Minnesota entered the locker room with a 32-22 lead. Pitts scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half, while Lamke and Bell each had seven.
• Like the first quarter, the third quarter was where Minnesota again separated from Wisconsin. Ahead 40-30, the Gophers closed the third quarter on a 15-4 run over the final 6:10.
• In the fourth, Wisconsin got as close as 13 points when a 3-pointer from Kelly Karlis made it a 61-48 game with 6:36 to play. Minnesota's defense stiffened though and held the Badgers to just three points over the next four minutes to help secure the win.
LAST TIME AT WISCONSIN
• Annalese Lamke led all scorers with 20 points, one off her career high. She was 6-of-7 from the floor and 8-of-10 at the free throw line, setting career highs in free throw makes and attemptes.
• Kenisha Bell notched her first double-double of the season with 17 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. She also had five assists and two steals.
• Destiny Pitts was the third Gopher to reach double figures, contributing 13 points. She also had four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Minnesota set the tone in the first quarter, outscoring Wisconsin 17-7. They held the Badgers to 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) shooting and outscored them 11-2 over the game's first eight minutes.
• The Gophers led 20-7 early in the second quarter, but Wisconsin used a 7-0 run over a 2:30 span to cut the lead to 20-14. That would be the closest it would get the rest of the way as Minnesota entered the locker room with a 32-22 lead. Pitts scored 11 of her 13 points in the first half, while Lamke and Bell each had seven.
• Like the first quarter, the third quarter was where Minnesota again separated from Wisconsin. Ahead 40-30, the Gophers closed the third quarter on a 15-4 run over the final 6:10.
• In the fourth, Wisconsin got as close as 13 points when a 3-pointer from Kelly Karlis made it a 61-48 game with 6:36 to play. Minnesota's defense stiffened though and held the Badgers to just three points over the next four minutes to help secure the win.
LAST TIME AT WISCONSIN
• Minnesota never trailed when the teams last met in Madison on Jan. 31, winning 71-61.
• Gadiva Hubbard led all scorers with a game-high 22 points, while Carlie Wagner added 20 of her own and Kenisha Bell posted 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
• Leading 15-12 with 1:10 to play in the first quarter, the Golden Gophers blew the game open with a 14-0 run over the next 4:50.
• Wisconsin never got closer than eight points, the latest of which came with 1:09 to play in the third quarter with Minnesota leading 51-43. The Gophers responded with eight unanswered points to put the game away.
• Minnesota led by as many as 17 points in the win, shooting 40.6 percent from the field and making 10 3-pointers. The Gophers held advantages of 23-4 in points off turnovers and 11-0 in fast break points.
• Gadiva Hubbard led all scorers with a game-high 22 points, while Carlie Wagner added 20 of her own and Kenisha Bell posted 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
• Leading 15-12 with 1:10 to play in the first quarter, the Golden Gophers blew the game open with a 14-0 run over the next 4:50.
• Wisconsin never got closer than eight points, the latest of which came with 1:09 to play in the third quarter with Minnesota leading 51-43. The Gophers responded with eight unanswered points to put the game away.
• Minnesota led by as many as 17 points in the win, shooting 40.6 percent from the field and making 10 3-pointers. The Gophers held advantages of 23-4 in points off turnovers and 11-0 in fast break points.
RECAPPING THE GAME AGAINST IOWA
• Minnesota held an eight-point lead at halftime but couldn't hang on in the second half in an 81-63 loss to Iowa Monday night at Williams Arena.
• Kenisha Bell was one of three in double figures for the Golden Gophers, leading the way with a team-high 22 points, her team-best eighth game this season of at least 20 points.
• Taiye Bello produced her seventh double-double of the season, and first in conference play, with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Destiny Pitts broke out of a mini-scoring slump with 16 points, led the team with four assists and tied a career high with three steals.
• Down 26-21 with 8:31 to play in the second quarter, Minnesota scored eight straight points and outscored Iowa 17-4 over the next seven minutes to pull ahead 38-30 and lead 40-32 at halftime. In outscoring Iowa 21-9 in the frame, Minnesota held the Hawkeyes to their lowest point total in any quarter this season.
• Unfortunately, the eight-point lead couldn't hold up as the third quarter began. Iowa scored the first six points and 20 of the first 23 in the frame to grab a 52-43 lead with 2:45 to play in the third. A three-point play from Bello got the Gophers within six at 54-48 with under a minute to play in the quarter, but that would be as close as Minnesota would get the rest of the way.
• Kenisha Bell was one of three in double figures for the Golden Gophers, leading the way with a team-high 22 points, her team-best eighth game this season of at least 20 points.
• Taiye Bello produced her seventh double-double of the season, and first in conference play, with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Destiny Pitts broke out of a mini-scoring slump with 16 points, led the team with four assists and tied a career high with three steals.
• Down 26-21 with 8:31 to play in the second quarter, Minnesota scored eight straight points and outscored Iowa 17-4 over the next seven minutes to pull ahead 38-30 and lead 40-32 at halftime. In outscoring Iowa 21-9 in the frame, Minnesota held the Hawkeyes to their lowest point total in any quarter this season.
• Unfortunately, the eight-point lead couldn't hold up as the third quarter began. Iowa scored the first six points and 20 of the first 23 in the frame to grab a 52-43 lead with 2:45 to play in the third. A three-point play from Bello got the Gophers within six at 54-48 with under a minute to play in the quarter, but that would be as close as Minnesota would get the rest of the way.
HISTORIC STARTS
• Minnesota opened the season by winning its first 12 games. The only better undefeated start in team history came in 2003-04 (15-0), while the Gophers also began the 2002-03 season 12-0. Those were head coach Lindsay Whalen's senior and junior seasons, respectively. The 12-game win streak tied for the third longest in program history and was the longest since the team's program-record 15-game streak that opened the 2003-04 season.
• With the 12-0 start, Whalen tied her former coach, Pam Borton (2002-03), for the best undefeated start by a coach in their first year at a Big Ten school since the incorporation of women's athletics in the conference in 1982-83. The only coach at a Big Ten school with more wins in his or her first year there was Ohio State's Debbie Wilson, who started 14-0 in 1972-73.
• Minnesota's 12-1 record was also the fourth best one-loss start in team history, while the 12-2 record tied for the fifth best two-loss start in program annals.
• With the 12-0 start, Whalen tied her former coach, Pam Borton (2002-03), for the best undefeated start by a coach in their first year at a Big Ten school since the incorporation of women's athletics in the conference in 1982-83. The only coach at a Big Ten school with more wins in his or her first year there was Ohio State's Debbie Wilson, who started 14-0 in 1972-73.
• Minnesota's 12-1 record was also the fourth best one-loss start in team history, while the 12-2 record tied for the fifth best two-loss start in program annals.
BELLO DOMINATING THE GLASS
• Through Tuesday, Taiye Bello was third in the country in offensive rebounds per game (5), sixth in total rebounds (196) and eighth in rebounds per game (12.3). She was also 27th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (7) and 31st in double-doubles (7).
• 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 12.3 this year. The +6.0 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 5.8 per game (+5.1).
• 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 12.3 this year. The +6.0 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 5.8 per game (+5.1).
• 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.
• At Michigan, she made all nine attempts from the floor for a career-high 24 points. She became one of five players in Gophers history to not miss when attempting at least that many shots.
• She also had her first B1G double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Iowa.
BELL STRONG IN SENIOR SEASON
• Senior Kenisha Bell leads the Gophers in several categories, including points per game (18.7), assists per game (4.2) and steals per game (2.31).
• Nationally, Bell is one of the best at getting to the free throw line, ranking sixth in attempts (125) and ninth in makes (85).
• She leads the Big Ten in steals (37), steals per game and free throw attempts, is second in field goals attempted (257) and free throws made, and ranks third in the conference in scoring average and points scored.
• Nationally, Bell is one of the best at getting to the free throw line, ranking sixth in attempts (125) and ninth in makes (85).
• She leads the Big Ten in steals (37), steals per game and free throw attempts, is second in field goals attempted (257) and free throws made, and ranks third in the conference in scoring average and points scored.
LAMKE MAKING THE MOST OF HER SENIOR YEAR
• Annalese Lamke is making the most of her senior season, posting better numbers this year than her first three seasons combined.
• Excluding transfers and freshmen, no player among the Big Ten's top 30 scorers has seen their scoring average increase has much from last year to this as Lamke. Her +10.0 improvement from 1.1 points per game last year to 11.1 this year is nearly double of Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel, who ranks second at +5.6.
• Lamke is also currently the second-most improved rebounder in the conference, jumping from 0.7 per game last year to 5.8 this year, for a difference of +5.1.
• Excluding transfers and freshmen, no player among the Big Ten's top 30 scorers has seen their scoring average increase has much from last year to this as Lamke. Her +10.0 improvement from 1.1 points per game last year to 11.1 this year is nearly double of Penn State's Kamaria McDaniel, who ranks second at +5.6.
• Lamke is also currently the second-most improved rebounder in the conference, jumping from 0.7 per game last year to 5.8 this year, for a difference of +5.1.
BRUNSON STEPPING UP IN CONFERENCE PLAY
• Junior Jasmine Brunson has elevated her game since conference play started.
• Her scoring average has gone up from 7.7 points per game in non-conference action to 9.6 in B1G play, while her shooting percentages have all increased: field goal percentage from .357 to .450, 3-point percentage from .286 to .429 and free throw percentage from .660 to .667.
• Her scoring average has gone up from 7.7 points per game in non-conference action to 9.6 in B1G play, while her shooting percentages have all increased: field goal percentage from .357 to .450, 3-point percentage from .286 to .429 and free throw percentage from .660 to .667.
DEFENSE IMPROVES FROM LAST SEASON
• Through Tuesday, the Golden Gophers ranked fifth in the Big Ten and 79th in the country (out of 349) in scoring defense by allowing 59.3 points per game. For comparison, last season Minnesota finished the year ranked 335th and allowed 74.8 points per game.
• Additionally, the Gophers are 27th in the country in rebounds per game (43.00) and rebound margin (8.1), and 32nd in fouls commited per game (14.6).
• Advanced metrics, via HerHoopStats.com, also show how strong the Gopher defense has been compared to recent history. Minnesota is 35th in the nation in opponent points per play (shots+/FT trips+turnover) at 0.70, 37th in opponent points per scoring attempt (shots+FT trips) at 0.89 and 45th in opponent points per 100 possessions (82.6).
• Additionally, the Gophers are 27th in the country in rebounds per game (43.00) and rebound margin (8.1), and 32nd in fouls commited per game (14.6).
• Advanced metrics, via HerHoopStats.com, also show how strong the Gopher defense has been compared to recent history. Minnesota is 35th in the nation in opponent points per play (shots+/FT trips+turnover) at 0.70, 37th in opponent points per scoring attempt (shots+FT trips) at 0.89 and 45th in opponent points per 100 possessions (82.6).
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