University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Pitts, Gophers Earn Preseason All-Big Ten Recognition
10/21/2019 12:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS – Preseason conference accolades for the Minnesota women's basketball team were announced Monday as the Golden Gophers were picked fifth in the media's Big Ten Preseason Rankings, while junior Destiny Pitts earned individual honors.
Minnesota is coming off a 21-11 season (9-9 in Big Ten play) and a trip to the second round of the Women's NIT in head coach Lindsay Whalen's debut campaign. The team returns three of its top four leading scorers from last season, along with 53.8 percent of its scoring, 70.4 percent of its 3-pointers, 63.8 percent of its blocks, 57.1 percent of its rebounds, 55.6 percent of its minutes, 51.9 percent of its steals, and 50.6 percent of its assists.
Pitts was a consensus Preseason All-Big Ten selection by both the league's coaches and media.
En route to earning All-Big Ten First Team honors by the media and Second Team recognition from the coaches last year, she was second on the team and sixth in the Big Ten by averaging 16.3 points per game. She also ranked second in the conference in free throw percentage (.838), third in 3-pointers made per game (2.5) and sixth in 3-point percentage (.352).
A native of Detroit, Mich., Pitts ranked fifth in team single-season history in 3-pointers attempted (230) and free throw percentage (.838), and sixth in 3-pointers made (81). Among her highlights on the year were a career-high 35 points, including 6-of-8 on 3-pointers and 11-of-12 at the free throw line at Boston College on Dec. 9, 29 points on a career-best 10 made field goals in a WNIT win against Northern Iowa on March 22 and 24 points with a career-high six assists versus Penn State on Feb. 17.
Pitts enters the 2019-20 season ranked sixth in team history in career 3-pointers made (171) and attempted (471), and ninth in 3-point percentage (.363). Her career point total sits at 958, leaving her 42 points away from becoming the 25th player in program history from reaching 1,000 career points.
Maryland was picked as the favorite by both the league's coaches and media, while Maryland's Kaila Charles earned Preseason Player of the Year honors from both groups.
Minnesota is coming off a 21-11 season (9-9 in Big Ten play) and a trip to the second round of the Women's NIT in head coach Lindsay Whalen's debut campaign. The team returns three of its top four leading scorers from last season, along with 53.8 percent of its scoring, 70.4 percent of its 3-pointers, 63.8 percent of its blocks, 57.1 percent of its rebounds, 55.6 percent of its minutes, 51.9 percent of its steals, and 50.6 percent of its assists.
Pitts was a consensus Preseason All-Big Ten selection by both the league's coaches and media.
En route to earning All-Big Ten First Team honors by the media and Second Team recognition from the coaches last year, she was second on the team and sixth in the Big Ten by averaging 16.3 points per game. She also ranked second in the conference in free throw percentage (.838), third in 3-pointers made per game (2.5) and sixth in 3-point percentage (.352).
A native of Detroit, Mich., Pitts ranked fifth in team single-season history in 3-pointers attempted (230) and free throw percentage (.838), and sixth in 3-pointers made (81). Among her highlights on the year were a career-high 35 points, including 6-of-8 on 3-pointers and 11-of-12 at the free throw line at Boston College on Dec. 9, 29 points on a career-best 10 made field goals in a WNIT win against Northern Iowa on March 22 and 24 points with a career-high six assists versus Penn State on Feb. 17.
Pitts enters the 2019-20 season ranked sixth in team history in career 3-pointers made (171) and attempted (471), and ninth in 3-point percentage (.363). Her career point total sits at 958, leaving her 42 points away from becoming the 25th player in program history from reaching 1,000 career points.
Maryland was picked as the favorite by both the league's coaches and media, while Maryland's Kaila Charles earned Preseason Player of the Year honors from both groups.
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