University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, December 4
South Bend, Ind.
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Notre Dame
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
First Road Trip Sends Gophers to Notre Dame for B1G/ACC Challenge
12/3/2019 9:45:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- RV/RV Minnesota (5-1) takes to the road for the first time this season when it visits RV/RV Notre Dame (5-4) in the 13th annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The game, which tips off at 7 p.m. CT, can be seen on ACC Network and heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE HISTORY
FACING NOTRE DAME
FINAL FOUR OPPONENT
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Minnesota has won six straight road openers and is 19-27 in such games dating back to 1973-74. During the team's current six-game streak, the Golden Gophers have outscored opponents by an average of 15.5 points per game: 77.5-62.
• By game number, Wednesday's contest is the latest into a season for a road opener for Minnesota since 2012-13 when it didn't play a true road game until Game No. 9 at Kansas. By date, it's the latest since 2010-11 when the Gophers' first road game came on Dec. 5 at Baylor.
• 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.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted double-doubles in four of the team's six games this year. Her four double-doubles this year lead the Big Ten and are 11th in the nation. In her career, Bello has 19 double-doubles to rank eighth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 17-2 in those games. On the season, she leads the Big Ten with 9.8 rebounds per game and 4.3 offensive rebounds per game. She is second on the Gophers at 12.5 points per game.
• Though only six games have been played, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen. The Gophers are averaging 81.3 points per game this year, nearly 11 points better than the 70.4 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 69 points better than last year even though they have 46 more attempts this year, and they are shooting 144 points better on free throws.
• Individually, Destiny Pitts is shooting 44.7 percent (17-38) on 3-pointers this year, after making just 25.8 percent (8-31) through six games a year ago. In addition, freshman Sara Scalia (50.0%) and redshirt junior Gadiva Hubbard (35.7%), who missed last year with an injury, have bolstered the 3-point shooting. Meanwhile at the line, five Gophers have attempted at least 10 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 73 percent, including Pitts (90.0), Jasmine Powell (85.2) and Taiye Bello (82.6), who rank 1-2-3 in the B1G in free throw percentage. Last year at this stage, of the five players with at least 10 attempts, only two were even above 70 percent.
• By game number, Wednesday's contest is the latest into a season for a road opener for Minnesota since 2012-13 when it didn't play a true road game until Game No. 9 at Kansas. By date, it's the latest since 2010-11 when the Gophers' first road game came on Dec. 5 at Baylor.
• 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.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted double-doubles in four of the team's six games this year. Her four double-doubles this year lead the Big Ten and are 11th in the nation. In her career, Bello has 19 double-doubles to rank eighth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 17-2 in those games. On the season, she leads the Big Ten with 9.8 rebounds per game and 4.3 offensive rebounds per game. She is second on the Gophers at 12.5 points per game.
• Though only six games have been played, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen. The Gophers are averaging 81.3 points per game this year, nearly 11 points better than the 70.4 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 69 points better than last year even though they have 46 more attempts this year, and they are shooting 144 points better on free throws.
• Individually, Destiny Pitts is shooting 44.7 percent (17-38) on 3-pointers this year, after making just 25.8 percent (8-31) through six games a year ago. In addition, freshman Sara Scalia (50.0%) and redshirt junior Gadiva Hubbard (35.7%), who missed last year with an injury, have bolstered the 3-point shooting. Meanwhile at the line, five Gophers have attempted at least 10 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 73 percent, including Pitts (90.0), Jasmine Powell (85.2) and Taiye Bello (82.6), who rank 1-2-3 in the B1G in free throw percentage. Last year at this stage, of the five players with at least 10 attempts, only two were even above 70 percent.
BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE HISTORY
• 2019-20 marks the 13th installment of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Golden Gophers are 5-7 all-time in the event, including a 1-5 mark on the road.
• Last season in a matchup of top-20 teams, No. 20 Minnesota used a fourth-quarter rally to knock off No. 12 Syracuse with a 72-68 victory. The Gophers held a 55-48 advantage with 8:56 to play in the game, but Syracuse responded with a 13-0 run to lead 61-55 with 3:36 to play. Minnesota threw a counter-punch, though, as they responded to the 13-0 run with a 12-0 spurt of its own to put the game away.
FACING NOTRE DAME
• Wednesday marks the third ever meeting between the Gophers and Fighting Irish, and it will be the first to take place during the regular season.
• Minnesota has won each of the previous two meetings, both of which came in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in South Bend, Ind.
• The first such meeting came in 1994 as No. 10 Minnesota made its NCAA Tournament debut with an 81-76 victory over seventh-seeded Notre Dame.
• The teams met again 15 years later in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament as the Gophers, seeded 10th again, knocked off No. 7 Notre Dame, 79-71.
• Notre Dame started the season 4-2, but recently went 1-2 at the Cancun Challenge. There are no common opponents between Minnesota and the Irish, though Notre Dame has played two Big Ten teams in Michigan State (L, 72-69 on Nov. 14) and Michigan (W, 76-72 on Nov. 23).
• Four players are averaging double figures for the Irish with Katlyn Gilbert (14.9), Anaya Peoples (14.0) and Destinee Walker (13.7) leading the way, and Sam Brunelle averaging 13.3 points and a team-best 6.7 rebounds per game.
• Minnesota has won each of the previous two meetings, both of which came in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in South Bend, Ind.
• The first such meeting came in 1994 as No. 10 Minnesota made its NCAA Tournament debut with an 81-76 victory over seventh-seeded Notre Dame.
• The teams met again 15 years later in the opening round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament as the Gophers, seeded 10th again, knocked off No. 7 Notre Dame, 79-71.
• Notre Dame started the season 4-2, but recently went 1-2 at the Cancun Challenge. There are no common opponents between Minnesota and the Irish, though Notre Dame has played two Big Ten teams in Michigan State (L, 72-69 on Nov. 14) and Michigan (W, 76-72 on Nov. 23).
• Four players are averaging double figures for the Irish with Katlyn Gilbert (14.9), Anaya Peoples (14.0) and Destinee Walker (13.7) leading the way, and Sam Brunelle averaging 13.3 points and a team-best 6.7 rebounds per game.
FINAL FOUR OPPONENT
• Notre Dame finished last season as the national runner-up, meaning Wednesday will mark the 23rd time in program history that the Gophers are playing a team that reached the Final Four in the previous season.
• All-time, the Gophers are 6-16 against teams that played in the prior year's Final Four, including a 3-8 mark against teams that reached the championship game.
• The last time it happened came on Feb. 28, 2016, when the Gophers lost to Maryland, who played in the 2015 Final Four. Minnesota's last win in such games came on Jan. 15, 2006, when it beat a Michigan State squad that lost in the 2005 National Championship Game.
LAST TIME OUT
• All-time, the Gophers are 6-16 against teams that played in the prior year's Final Four, including a 3-8 mark against teams that reached the championship game.
• The last time it happened came on Feb. 28, 2016, when the Gophers lost to Maryland, who played in the 2015 Final Four. Minnesota's last win in such games came on Jan. 15, 2006, when it beat a Michigan State squad that lost in the 2005 National Championship Game.
LAST TIME OUT
• Minnesota scored the first 16 points of the game and never looked back in a 101-56 win over Bryant on Nov. 26 at Williams Arena.
• Closing out their season-opening six-game homestand, Minnesota had four players in double figures and eight players with at least eight points. The victory was the 23rd 100-point game in program history and the first since a 101-68 victory over Penn State on Feb. 11, 2018.
• Sara Scalia led all players with a career-high 20 points and matched a career high with seven rebounds. All but two of redshirt junior Gadiva Hubbard's 18 points came in the first half, including 11 in the first quarter alone.
• Taiye Bello notched a double-double for the fourth time in six games this year with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Jasmine Powell tallied 14 points and set career bests with seven assists and five steals.
• The box score told the story of the Gophers' domination as they had 56 points in the paint and 54 points total in the second half, while the Bulldogs only had 56 points overall. Minnesota also forced Bryant into 26 turnovers and scored 45 points off of them, while the Gophers enjoyed a 21-to-8 assist-to-turnover ratio themselves.
• Closing out their season-opening six-game homestand, Minnesota had four players in double figures and eight players with at least eight points. The victory was the 23rd 100-point game in program history and the first since a 101-68 victory over Penn State on Feb. 11, 2018.
• Sara Scalia led all players with a career-high 20 points and matched a career high with seven rebounds. All but two of redshirt junior Gadiva Hubbard's 18 points came in the first half, including 11 in the first quarter alone.
• Taiye Bello notched a double-double for the fourth time in six games this year with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Jasmine Powell tallied 14 points and set career bests with seven assists and five steals.
• The box score told the story of the Gophers' domination as they had 56 points in the paint and 54 points total in the second half, while the Bulldogs only had 56 points overall. Minnesota also forced Bryant into 26 turnovers and scored 45 points off of them, while the Gophers enjoyed a 21-to-8 assist-to-turnover ratio themselves.
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
• Minnesota has five freshmen on its 2019-20 roster and some are already making significant contributions.
• Jasmine Powell has come off the bench in all six games but is third on the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game and has a 4.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks fourth nationally and second in the Big Ten. She's also 23-of-27 (.852) at the free-throw line to lead the team in free throws made and attempted.
• She put up 19 points against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since teammate Destiny Pitts had 20 on Nov. 16, 2017, and has scored in double figures in four of six games this year.
• Sara Scalia has started each of the last five contests and leads the team in 3-point percentage (.500), in second in field goal percentage (.476) and sixth in scoring average (9.5).
• Against Bryant on Nov. 26, she scored a career-high 20 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds en route to being named B1G Freshman of the Week.
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• Jasmine Powell has come off the bench in all six games but is third on the team in scoring at 12.2 points per game and has a 4.4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks fourth nationally and second in the Big Ten. She's also 23-of-27 (.852) at the free-throw line to lead the team in free throws made and attempted.
• She put up 19 points against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since teammate Destiny Pitts had 20 on Nov. 16, 2017, and has scored in double figures in four of six games this year.
• Sara Scalia has started each of the last five contests and leads the team in 3-point percentage (.500), in second in field goal percentage (.476) and sixth in scoring average (9.5).
• Against Bryant on Nov. 26, she scored a career-high 20 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds en route to being named B1G Freshman of the Week.
• Minnesota is winning the turnover battle so far, forcing 137 turnovers while giving the ball away just 68 times through six games.
• Not only do the Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank fourth nationally with an average turnover margin of +11.50, they also lead the league in fewest turnovers per game (11.3; ninth nationally), rank third in turnovers forced per game (22.83; 18th nationally) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.34; 18th 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. They have turned those 137 turnovers into 173 points this year, an average of 1.26 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.
• Not only do the Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank fourth nationally with an average turnover margin of +11.50, they also lead the league in fewest turnovers per game (11.3; ninth nationally), rank third in turnovers forced per game (22.83; 18th nationally) and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.34; 18th 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. They have turned those 137 turnovers into 173 points this year, an average of 1.26 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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