University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, January 9
East Lansing, Mich.
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Michigan State
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
Top-25 Matchup on Tap Wednesday Night in East Lansing
1/8/2019 12:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- Holding a 2-1 record this season in true road games, No. 18/20 (AP/Coaches) Minnesota (12-2, 1-2 B1G) travels to No. 23/24 Michigan State (11-3, 1-2) Wednesday night at 6 p.m. CT.
The game will be available to stream on BTN Plus and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Wednesday night's game will be the first AP Top-25 matchup on the road for Minnesota since Jan. 25, 2015 when the 21st-ranked Gophers lost at 25th-ranked Rutgers. Minnesota is 16-27 all-time in Top-25 games and 4-10 when the higher ranked team. Wednesday will also be the seventh time that Minnesota and Michigan State have met when both are ranked, with the Spartans holding a 5-1 edge in those games. The Golden Gophers are looking for their first road win over an AP Top 25 team since beating No. 23 Notre Dame in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
• Minnesota enters Wednesday's game ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll. The Gophers are 15-2 all-time as the No. 18 team and have won three of their past four games when holding that ranking. Minnesota is also No. 20 in the most recent Coaches Poll, its fifth straight week appearing in the poll.
• The Golden Gophers have already played one Top-25 game this season. On Nov. 29, the then-20th-ranked Gophers topped then-No. 12 Syracuse, 72-68, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It snapped a streak of five straight losses in Top-25 matchups for Minnesota.
• Minnesota saw its season-opening win streak end at 12 games with a 76-60 loss at Michigan on Dec. 31. 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, whose first year was 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 at that school is Ohio State's Debbie Wilson, who started 14-0 in 1972-73.
SERIES HISTORY WITH MICHIGAN STATE
• 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 on BTN Plus and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Wednesday night's game will be the first AP Top-25 matchup on the road for Minnesota since Jan. 25, 2015 when the 21st-ranked Gophers lost at 25th-ranked Rutgers. Minnesota is 16-27 all-time in Top-25 games and 4-10 when the higher ranked team. Wednesday will also be the seventh time that Minnesota and Michigan State have met when both are ranked, with the Spartans holding a 5-1 edge in those games. The Golden Gophers are looking for their first road win over an AP Top 25 team since beating No. 23 Notre Dame in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.
• Minnesota enters Wednesday's game ranked No. 18 in the AP Poll. The Gophers are 15-2 all-time as the No. 18 team and have won three of their past four games when holding that ranking. Minnesota is also No. 20 in the most recent Coaches Poll, its fifth straight week appearing in the poll.
• The Golden Gophers have already played one Top-25 game this season. On Nov. 29, the then-20th-ranked Gophers topped then-No. 12 Syracuse, 72-68, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It snapped a streak of five straight losses in Top-25 matchups for Minnesota.
• Minnesota saw its season-opening win streak end at 12 games with a 76-60 loss at Michigan on Dec. 31. 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, whose first year was 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 at that school is Ohio State's Debbie Wilson, who started 14-0 in 1972-73.
SERIES HISTORY WITH MICHIGAN STATE
• Minnesota and Michigan State meet for the 65th time on Wednesday. The Gophers trail in the all-time series 42-22, but won last season to snap a three-game losing streak to the Spartans.
• In East Lansing, Minnesota trails Michigan State, 23-7. The Gophers are looking to snap a six-game losing streak at the Breslin Center, last winning there on Feb. 26, 2009.
• Minnesota has three Michigan natives on its roster. Destiny Pitts is from Detroit, which is about 90 minutes southeast of East Lansing. She won two state titles at Detroit County Day HS, both of which took place at the Breslin Center. Kehinde and Taiye Bello are from Southfield (Southfield-Lathrup HS), which is about 70 minutes southeast of East Lansing.
• Michigan State has one Minnesotan on its roster: Nia Hollie from Minneapolis and Hopkins High School.
• In her playing career head coach Lindsay Whalen was 1-5 vs. Michigan State, averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.
LAST SEASON VS. THE SPARTANS
LAST TIME AT MICHIGAN STATE
RECAPPING THE GAME AGAINST ILLINOIS
• In East Lansing, Minnesota trails Michigan State, 23-7. The Gophers are looking to snap a six-game losing streak at the Breslin Center, last winning there on Feb. 26, 2009.
• Minnesota has three Michigan natives on its roster. Destiny Pitts is from Detroit, which is about 90 minutes southeast of East Lansing. She won two state titles at Detroit County Day HS, both of which took place at the Breslin Center. Kehinde and Taiye Bello are from Southfield (Southfield-Lathrup HS), which is about 70 minutes southeast of East Lansing.
• Michigan State has one Minnesotan on its roster: Nia Hollie from Minneapolis and Hopkins High School.
• In her playing career head coach Lindsay Whalen was 1-5 vs. Michigan State, averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game.
LAST SEASON VS. THE SPARTANS
• Nine different Gophers scored as Minnesota pulled out a close 83-77 victory over Michigan State last season in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, 2018.
• Kenisha Bell led the team with 20 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals. In her second start of the season, Bryanna Fernstrom scored 14 points and recorded seven rebounds, while Carlie Wagner put the team on her back and finished with 15 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter.
• The Gophers capitalized with 29 points off of Michigan State's 23 turnovers. Minnesota also saw strong play in the paint, scoring 40 points.
• Kenisha Bell led the team with 20 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and five steals. In her second start of the season, Bryanna Fernstrom scored 14 points and recorded seven rebounds, while Carlie Wagner put the team on her back and finished with 15 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter.
• The Gophers capitalized with 29 points off of Michigan State's 23 turnovers. Minnesota also saw strong play in the paint, scoring 40 points.
LAST TIME AT MICHIGAN STATE
• The last time the teams met in East Lansing, Minnesota fell 85-69 on Feb. 16, 2017.
• Jessie Edwards had 14 points and six rebounds for the Gophers, while Carlie Wagner scored 13. Wagner and Whitney Tinjum had a team-high eight rebounds as Minnesota edged Michigan State 39-37 on the boards. The Gophers were 24-for-32 shooting free throws.
• Branndais Agee scored 30 points and Tori Jankoska 24 for Michigan State. Each made six 3-pointers and the Spartans made 13 of 30 attempts as a team. Minnesota made just three triples and shot 33.9 percent from the field.
• Minnesota led 20-19 after the first quarter and held the Spartans scoreless for the first four-plus minutes of the second. The Gophers built a 35-27 lead, but the Spartans ended the half on a 10-0 run for a 37-35 lead.
• The Gophers' cut a 12-point deficit in half by the end of the third quarter, but could get no closer than that once play moved to the fourth.
• Jessie Edwards had 14 points and six rebounds for the Gophers, while Carlie Wagner scored 13. Wagner and Whitney Tinjum had a team-high eight rebounds as Minnesota edged Michigan State 39-37 on the boards. The Gophers were 24-for-32 shooting free throws.
• Branndais Agee scored 30 points and Tori Jankoska 24 for Michigan State. Each made six 3-pointers and the Spartans made 13 of 30 attempts as a team. Minnesota made just three triples and shot 33.9 percent from the field.
• Minnesota led 20-19 after the first quarter and held the Spartans scoreless for the first four-plus minutes of the second. The Gophers built a 35-27 lead, but the Spartans ended the half on a 10-0 run for a 37-35 lead.
• The Gophers' cut a 12-point deficit in half by the end of the third quarter, but could get no closer than that once play moved to the fourth.
RECAPPING THE GAME AGAINST ILLINOIS
• Minnesota saw its 10-game home win streak come to an end with a 66-62 loss to Illinois Sunday.
• Three Golden Gophers scored in double figures, led by 18 points from Annalese Lamke. All 18 came in the first half, as she added eight rebounds and three assists.
• Jasmine Brunson scored a career-high 17 points, including 12 in the third quarter alone, while Kenisha Bell logged her second double-double of the season and the ninth of her Minnesota career as she posted 14 points and a season-best 11 rebounds.
• Down 19-17 less than two minutes into the second quarter, the Gophers took control with a 16-0 run over nearly six minutes of action to pull ahead 33-19 and led 35-21 at halftime.
• Minnesota's biggest lead came early in the third quarter when a 3-pointer from Brunson put the Gophers ahead 44-27 with 7:38 remaining. Illinois quickly countered though, and went on a 12-0 run.
• Bell hit a jumper to put Minnesota on top 55-43 with 8:37 to play in the game, but Illinois scored the next nine points to make it a 55-52 game. A 3-pointer from Destiny Pitts seemed to take momentum away from the Illini as Minnesota led 60-55 with just over four minutes to play, but Illinois used an 11-2 run to close out the game.
• Three Golden Gophers scored in double figures, led by 18 points from Annalese Lamke. All 18 came in the first half, as she added eight rebounds and three assists.
• Jasmine Brunson scored a career-high 17 points, including 12 in the third quarter alone, while Kenisha Bell logged her second double-double of the season and the ninth of her Minnesota career as she posted 14 points and a season-best 11 rebounds.
• Down 19-17 less than two minutes into the second quarter, the Gophers took control with a 16-0 run over nearly six minutes of action to pull ahead 33-19 and led 35-21 at halftime.
• Minnesota's biggest lead came early in the third quarter when a 3-pointer from Brunson put the Gophers ahead 44-27 with 7:38 remaining. Illinois quickly countered though, and went on a 12-0 run.
• Bell hit a jumper to put Minnesota on top 55-43 with 8:37 to play in the game, but Illinois scored the next nine points to make it a 55-52 game. A 3-pointer from Destiny Pitts seemed to take momentum away from the Illini as Minnesota led 60-55 with just over four minutes to play, but Illinois used an 11-2 run to close out the game.
TURNING UP THE DEFENSE
• The Golden Gophers currently rank third in the Big Ten and 26th in the country (out of 349) in scoring defense by allowing just 55.9 points per game. For comparison, last season Minnesota finished the year ranked 335th by allowing 74.8 points per game.
• Additionally, the Gophers are 18th in the country in rebound margin (9.4), 19th in rebounds per game (44.36), 30th in scoring margin (+16.4) and 34th in opponent field goal percentage (35.2).
• Advanced metrics, via HerHoopStats.com, also show how strong the Gopher defense has been. Minnesota is 11th in the nation in opponent points per play (shots+/FT trips+turnover) at 0.66, 14th in opponent points per scoring attempt (shots+FT trips) at 0.84, 15th in both opponent points per 100 possessions (77.9) and opponent field goal percentage on two-pointers (36.8), and 24th in opponent effective FG% (accounts for the value of 3-point shots: (FG + 0.5*3P) / FGA)) at 39.5%.
• 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.
• Additionally, the Gophers are 18th in the country in rebound margin (9.4), 19th in rebounds per game (44.36), 30th in scoring margin (+16.4) and 34th in opponent field goal percentage (35.2).
• Advanced metrics, via HerHoopStats.com, also show how strong the Gopher defense has been. Minnesota is 11th in the nation in opponent points per play (shots+/FT trips+turnover) at 0.66, 14th in opponent points per scoring attempt (shots+FT trips) at 0.84, 15th in both opponent points per 100 possessions (77.9) and opponent field goal percentage on two-pointers (36.8), and 24th in opponent effective FG% (accounts for the value of 3-point shots: (FG + 0.5*3P) / FGA)) at 39.5%.
• 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 Sunday, Taiye Bello was second in the country in offensive rebounds per game (5) and was fourth in both in total rebounds (181) and rebounds per game (12.9) She was also 20th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (8) and 34th 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 12.9 this year. The +6.6 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 6.1 per game (+5.4).
• 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 in game four, 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.
• 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 12.9 this year. The +6.6 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 6.1 per game (+5.4).
• 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 in game four, 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.
BELL STRONG IN HER SENIOR SEASON
• Senior Kenisha Bell leads the Gophers in several categories, including points per game (18.4), assists per game (4.5) and steals per game (2.5).
• Nationally, Bell is one of the best at getting to the free throw line, ranking fifth in attempts (109) and 13th in makes (73).
• She leads the Big Ten in steals (35), steals per game and free throw attempts, is second in made field goals attempts (223) and made free throws and ranks third in the conference in scoring average.
• Bell entered 2018-19 as the Gophers' top returner in both scoring (20.0) and assists per game (6.8).
• Bell was one of the most versatile players in the country last season. She led the Big Ten in assists/game and total steals (85), ranking ninth and 28th, respectively in those categories nationally.
• In addition to ranking ninth in assists/game, Bell also ranked 28th in scoring average (20.0), making her one of two players in the country to rank in the top 30 of each category with Oklahoma State's Loryn Goodwin.
• Nationally, Bell is one of the best at getting to the free throw line, ranking fifth in attempts (109) and 13th in makes (73).
• She leads the Big Ten in steals (35), steals per game and free throw attempts, is second in made field goals attempts (223) and made free throws and ranks third in the conference in scoring average.
• Bell entered 2018-19 as the Gophers' top returner in both scoring (20.0) and assists per game (6.8).
• Bell was one of the most versatile players in the country last season. She led the Big Ten in assists/game and total steals (85), ranking ninth and 28th, respectively in those categories nationally.
• In addition to ranking ninth in assists/game, Bell also ranked 28th in scoring average (20.0), making her one of two players in the country to rank in the top 30 of each category with Oklahoma State's Loryn Goodwin.
MINNESOTA NEAR THE TOP IN ATTENDANCE
• Through 11 home games, the Gophers have had a total attendance of 64,599 with an average of 5,873 per contest. Through Jan. 7, 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 either a 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 either a 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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