University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, November 23
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Montana State
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Host Montana State Saturday in Second Annual Victor Game
11/21/2019 3:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS --Â RV/RV Minnesota (3-1) continues its season-opening six-game homestand Saturday afternoon when it hosts Montana State (3-1) at 2 p.m. The game can be seen on BTN+ and heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• The Golden Gophers are looking to win at least four of their first five games in a season for the seventh year in a row.
• Minnesota is receiving votes in both the latest AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches 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.
• With 22 points Sunday vs. Arizona State, Destiny Pitts became the 25th player in Gophers history to reach 1,000 points in her career. She did it in just 69 games, the ninth fewest games needed to get to 1,000 points in team history. Pitts now stands at 1,017 career points to rank 24th in program history.
• Senior Taiye Bello was one point shy of her third straight double-double as she scored nine points with 11 rebounds against Arizona State Sunday. Previously, she had gone for 14 points and 10 rebounds against Vermont on Nov. 10 and 18 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks Nov. 14 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 field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds and blocks.
• Though only four games have been played, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen. The Gophers are averaging 79.0 points per game this year, nearly eight points better than the 71.3 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 81 points better than last year (.383 vs. .302) even though they have 28 more attempts this year, and they are shooting 140 points better on free throws (.797 vs. .657).
• Minnesota is receiving votes in both the latest AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches 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.
• With 22 points Sunday vs. Arizona State, Destiny Pitts became the 25th player in Gophers history to reach 1,000 points in her career. She did it in just 69 games, the ninth fewest games needed to get to 1,000 points in team history. Pitts now stands at 1,017 career points to rank 24th in program history.
• Senior Taiye Bello was one point shy of her third straight double-double as she scored nine points with 11 rebounds against Arizona State Sunday. Previously, she had gone for 14 points and 10 rebounds against Vermont on Nov. 10 and 18 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks Nov. 14 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 field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds and blocks.
• Though only four games have been played, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen. The Gophers are averaging 79.0 points per game this year, nearly eight points better than the 71.3 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 81 points better than last year (.383 vs. .302) even though they have 28 more attempts this year, and they are shooting 140 points better on free throws (.797 vs. .657).
PROMOTIONS
• Saturday is the team's second annual Victor Game, celebrating all "Victors" against cancer. There will be a special Victor recognition at halftime.
• Be in your seats by tip-off for a special pregame recognition of Destiny Pitts' 1000 career points.
• Stillwater Community Day | Buy Tickets
• Postgame autographs are scheduled to include Masha Adashchyk and Kadi Sissoko.
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• Be in your seats by tip-off for a special pregame recognition of Destiny Pitts' 1000 career points.
• Stillwater Community Day | Buy Tickets
• Postgame autographs are scheduled to include Masha Adashchyk and Kadi Sissoko.
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FACING MONTANA STATE
• Saturday marks the first ever meeting between Minnesota and Montana State.Â
• The Golden Gophers are 8-2 all-time against teams currently in the Big Sky Conference and have won eight in a row against those teams.Â
• The last meeting for Minnesota against a Big Sky team came on Dec. 23, 2015 when the Gophers beat North Dakota in Minneapolis, 57-47.
• During the current eight-game win streak against the Big Sky, which dates to Dec. of 1979, Minnesota has won those games by an average of nearly 15 points (72.3-57.6).
• Montana State has four Minnesotans on its roster: senior Martha Kuderer from Eden Prairie (Chanhassen HS), sophomore Gabby Mocchi from Champlin (Champlin Park HS), redshirt-freshman Sidney Zieske from Waconia (Waconia HS) and freshman Kenzie Stumne from Forest Lake (Forest Lake HS).Â
• The Bobcats are 3-1 on the season as they won their first three games of the year before falling at South Dakota State on Thursday night. Three players are averaging double figures with Fallyn Freije leading the way at 10.3 points per game, while Tori Martell and Darian White are both averaging 10.0 points per game. Madeline Smith is the team's leading rebounder at 6.0 per contest.
GOPHERS KNOCK OFF NO. 19 ARIZONA STATE
• The Golden Gophers are 8-2 all-time against teams currently in the Big Sky Conference and have won eight in a row against those teams.Â
• The last meeting for Minnesota against a Big Sky team came on Dec. 23, 2015 when the Gophers beat North Dakota in Minneapolis, 57-47.
• During the current eight-game win streak against the Big Sky, which dates to Dec. of 1979, Minnesota has won those games by an average of nearly 15 points (72.3-57.6).
• Montana State has four Minnesotans on its roster: senior Martha Kuderer from Eden Prairie (Chanhassen HS), sophomore Gabby Mocchi from Champlin (Champlin Park HS), redshirt-freshman Sidney Zieske from Waconia (Waconia HS) and freshman Kenzie Stumne from Forest Lake (Forest Lake HS).Â
• The Bobcats are 3-1 on the season as they won their first three games of the year before falling at South Dakota State on Thursday night. Three players are averaging double figures with Fallyn Freije leading the way at 10.3 points per game, while Tori Martell and Darian White are both averaging 10.0 points per game. Madeline Smith is the team's leading rebounder at 6.0 per contest.
GOPHERS KNOCK OFF NO. 19 ARIZONA STATE
• Destiny Pitts (22 points) and Gadiva Hubbard (20) led Minnesota to an 80-66 win over No. 19/18 Arizona State on Nov. 17.
• The Golden Gophers scored the first nine points of the game and never trailed as they knocked off a top-25 opponent for the second time in their last three games against ranked foes. Dating to 2017-18, they have won seven of their last 12 such games with six of those wins coming with the Gophers unranked.
• A 3-point play from Jasmine Brunson, who finished with a season-high 15 points and tied a career-high with six assists, gave Minnesota its biggest lead at 65-44 with 8:53 to play in the game. The Sun Devils fought back and got within 10 at 70-60 with 2:36 remaining. However, Sara Scalia immediately responded with a 3-pointer and, after a pair of ASU free throws, Hubbard hit another from long range to put the game away.
FRESHMEN MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
• The Golden Gophers scored the first nine points of the game and never trailed as they knocked off a top-25 opponent for the second time in their last three games against ranked foes. Dating to 2017-18, they have won seven of their last 12 such games with six of those wins coming with the Gophers unranked.
• A 3-point play from Jasmine Brunson, who finished with a season-high 15 points and tied a career-high with six assists, gave Minnesota its biggest lead at 65-44 with 8:53 to play in the game. The Sun Devils fought back and got within 10 at 70-60 with 2:36 remaining. However, Sara Scalia immediately responded with a 3-pointer and, after a pair of ASU free throws, Hubbard hit another from long range to put the game away.
FRESHMEN MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
• Minnesota has five freshmen on its 2019-20 roster and some are already making significant contributions.Â
• Jasmine Powell has come off the bench in all four games but is fourth on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game and has a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks third in the Big Ten. She's also 13-of-15 (.867) at the free-throw line.
• She put up 19 against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since teammate Destiny Pitts had 20 on Nov. 16, 2017.
• Sara Scalia has started each of the last three contests and is second on the team in 3-point percentage (.417), third in minutes per game (25.8) and sixth in scoring average (8.0). In her first career start against Vermont, she had nine points and seven rebounds.
• Klarke Sconiers has provided depth for the Gophers frontcourt, playing in the first three games of the year and averaging 7.4 minutes and 3.3 points per contest. She's made 5-of-8 shots from the field so far.
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• Jasmine Powell has come off the bench in all four games but is fourth on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game and has a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks third in the Big Ten. She's also 13-of-15 (.867) at the free-throw line.
• She put up 19 against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since teammate Destiny Pitts had 20 on Nov. 16, 2017.
• Sara Scalia has started each of the last three contests and is second on the team in 3-point percentage (.417), third in minutes per game (25.8) and sixth in scoring average (8.0). In her first career start against Vermont, she had nine points and seven rebounds.
• Klarke Sconiers has provided depth for the Gophers frontcourt, playing in the first three games of the year and averaging 7.4 minutes and 3.3 points per contest. She's made 5-of-8 shots from the field so far.
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• Minnesota is winning the turnover battle so far, forcing 88 turnovers while giving the ball away just 47 times through four games.Â
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank 12th nationally with an average turnover margin of +10.25, while also ranking second in the league in fewest turnovers per game (11.8; 16th nationally) and turnovers forced per game (22.00; 44th nationally).
• Against Milwaukee on Nov. 14, Minnesota forced the Panthers into 33 turnovers, which tied for the 10th most forced in program history. The Gophers then turned those 33 turnovers into 35 points.
• Converting turnovers into points has been a trend for the Gophers all season as they have turned 88 takeaways into 100 points this year, an average of 1.14 points for every turnover forced.
• In terms of taking care of the ball, against Vermont on Nov. 10 the Gophers only committed five turnovers, which tied for the third fewest in program history.
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank 12th nationally with an average turnover margin of +10.25, while also ranking second in the league in fewest turnovers per game (11.8; 16th nationally) and turnovers forced per game (22.00; 44th nationally).
• Against Milwaukee on Nov. 14, Minnesota forced the Panthers into 33 turnovers, which tied for the 10th most forced in program history. The Gophers then turned those 33 turnovers into 35 points.
• Converting turnovers into points has been a trend for the Gophers all season as they have turned 88 takeaways into 100 points this year, an average of 1.14 points for every turnover forced.
• In terms of taking care of the ball, against Vermont on Nov. 10 the Gophers only committed five turnovers, which tied for the third fewest in program history.
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