University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, November 17
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Arizona State
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
GOLDOUT Set for Sunday as Gophers Host No. 19 Arizona State
11/15/2019 11:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- RV/RV Minnesota (2-1) continues its season-opening six-game homestand Sunday afternoon when it hosts No. 19/18 Arizona State (2-0) at 3 p.m.
Not only is it Minnesota's first game against a ranked opponent this year, but it's also the first game on national TV as the contest will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network and the Fox Sports App. In addition, the game can be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
Not only is it Minnesota's first game against a ranked opponent this year, but it's also the first game on national TV as the contest will be broadcasted on Big Ten Network and the Fox Sports App. In addition, the game can be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Minnesota went 2-2 last year against top-25 teams, defeating No. 12 Syracuse (Nov. 29) and No. 17 Rutgers (Feb. 3) while losing to No. 22 Iowa (Jan. 14) and No. 23 Michigan State (Jan. 9). In fact, the Gophers are 6-4 in their last 10 games against ranked teams with five of those wins coming while the Gophers were unranked.
• This is the earliest in a season that the Gophers have faced a top-25 team since 2011-12 when they lost to No. 21 Florida State in the second game of the year.
• Minnesota went 5-3 in games televised on Big Ten Network last year.
• Minnesota is receiving votes in both the latest AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll. The Gophers were ranked No. 23 to start the year in the AP Preseason Poll. It was the fifth time in program history they had been ranked in the AP Preseason Poll and the first since they were No. 16 in 2005-06.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted double-doubles in consecutive games, going for 14 points and 10 rebounds against Vermont last Sunday and 18 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks Thursday vs. Milwaukee. She has 17 double-doubles in her career to rank 10th in Gophers history and the Gophers are 15-2 in those games. This year, she leads the team in scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage (min. 6 att)., rebounds and blocks.
• Though only three games have been played, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen. The Gophers are averaging 78.7 points per game this year, nearly 12 points better than the 67.0 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago. Two areas where Minnesota has already seen improvement are from 3-point range and at the free-throw line. The Gophers' field goal percentage on 3-pointers is 115 points better than last year (.365 vs. .250) even though they have 27 more attempts this year, and they are shooting 161 points better on free throws (.790 vs. .629).
• This is the earliest in a season that the Gophers have faced a top-25 team since 2011-12 when they lost to No. 21 Florida State in the second game of the year.
• Minnesota went 5-3 in games televised on Big Ten Network last year.
• Minnesota is receiving votes in both the latest AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll. The Gophers were ranked No. 23 to start the year in the AP Preseason Poll. It was the fifth time in program history they had been ranked in the AP Preseason Poll and the first since they were No. 16 in 2005-06.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted double-doubles in consecutive games, going for 14 points and 10 rebounds against Vermont last Sunday and 18 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks Thursday vs. Milwaukee. She has 17 double-doubles in her career to rank 10th in Gophers history and the Gophers are 15-2 in those games. This year, she leads the team in scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage (min. 6 att)., rebounds and blocks.
• Though only three games have been played, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen. The Gophers are averaging 78.7 points per game this year, nearly 12 points better than the 67.0 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago. Two areas where Minnesota has already seen improvement are from 3-point range and at the free-throw line. The Gophers' field goal percentage on 3-pointers is 115 points better than last year (.365 vs. .250) even though they have 27 more attempts this year, and they are shooting 161 points better on free throws (.790 vs. .629).
PROMOTIONS
• Sunday is a GOLDOUT against the Sun Devils. All fans are encouraged to wear gold, while the first 1,000 through the door get a free gold t-shirt.
• Goldy's Kids Club members receive free admission, while family and friends can get tickets for $6. More information can be requested here.
• As part of Daddy Daughter Day, fans can get two tickets, two drinks, one popcorn and a postgame photo on the court for $25.
• Postgame autographs are scheduled to include Taiye Bello, Jasmine Brunson, Destiny Pitts and Sara Scalia.
• Goldy's Kids Club members receive free admission, while family and friends can get tickets for $6. More information can be requested here.
• As part of Daddy Daughter Day, fans can get two tickets, two drinks, one popcorn and a postgame photo on the court for $25.
• Postgame autographs are scheduled to include Taiye Bello, Jasmine Brunson, Destiny Pitts and Sara Scalia.
FACING ARIZONA STATE
• Sunday marks just the second ever meeting between Minnesota and Arizona State.
• The Gophers and Sun Devils previously met in Anchorage, Alaska, as part of the 1982 Northern Lights Tournament with Minnesota prevailing 76-58.
• Minnesota is 15-15 all-time against teams currently in the PAC-12 Conference. This will be the first regular season meeting between Minnesota and a team from the conference since Dec. 20, 2013 when the Gophers faced UCLA.
• Arizona State has two Minnesotans on its roster: senior Kiara Russell from Minneapolis and Osseo High School and senior Jamie Ruden from Rochester and John Marshall High School.
• The Sun Devils are 2-0 on the season with wins over Air Force (87-56) on Nov. 5 and Army (83-51) on Nov. 10. Three players are averaging double figures with Ja'Tavia Tapley leading the way ta 14.5 points per game, while Robbi Ryan and Jade Van Hyfte are both putting up 12.0 per game. Tapley is also the team's leading rebounder at 7.0 per contest.
PITTS CLOSING IN ON 1,000 CAREER POINTS
PITTS CLOSING IN ON 1,000 CAREER POINTS
• With 995 career points, Destiny Pitts is 5 points away from becoming the 25th player in Gophers history to reach 1,000 points in her career.
• Sunday marks her 69th career game. If she were to reach the mark then, it would be the ninth fewest games needed to get to 1,000 points in team history. The record belongs to Lindsay Whalen and Laura Coenen, who both did it in 51 career games.
Highlights: Gophers 57, Kansas 63
Wednesday, November 19
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-NJIT
Saturday, November 15
Highlights: Gophers 88, NJIT 39
Friday, November 14
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Marquette
Thursday, November 13