University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, February 14
West Lafayette, Ind.
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Purdue
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Look to Extend Win Streak at Purdue Thursday
2/13/2019 1:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Riding a four-game win streak, Minnesota (17-7, 6-7 B1G) is back out on the road Thursday at Purdue (16-10, 7-6) at 5 p.m. CT. It's the sixth game of an eight-game stretch where Minnesota alternates between home and road.
The game will be the second of three straight televised on Big Ten Network, and it can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
EARLIER THIS SEASON VS. THE BOILERMAKERS
• The Gophers' defense has clamped down during the stretch, making notable improvements in several stats compared to the first nine games of conference play. Points per game allowed has gone from 67.4 to 56.2, while opponent field goal percentage has dropped 63 points to .386 and opponent 3-point percentage has dropped 134 points to .246. Turnovers forced have gone up 4.1 per game to 18.3, while steals per game have also gone up from 5.6 to 9.0.
• The offense has also made improvements in 3-point percentage (28.2 percent to 35.0) and free-throw percentage (67.6 percent to 73.3) during the streak.
BELL FINISHING STRONG IN SENIOR SEASON
• Four of the top five marks in team history, and eight of the top 10, have come with Whalen as a player or coach.
• The season-opening sellout stood as the highest attendance for any women's game this season until it was passed on Jan. 31 by the 17,023 that saw No. 2 UConn play at No. 3 Louisville.
The game will be the second of three straight televised on Big Ten Network, and it can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Minnesota and Purdue will be meeting for the second time this season as the teams recently played in Minneapolis on Jan. 20. The Boilermakers prevailed in that contest, 64-53. Purdue will be the third team Minnesota has faced twice this year, already sweeping season series with Wisconsin and Northwestern.
• Minnesota's four-game win streak in conference play is its longest since also winning four straight in Feb. of last season. A win Thursday would give the Gophers their first five-game win streak in league play since Feb. of 2015, tying for the sixth longest in program history. A win would also mark the third straight victory in the league on the road, which would tie for fourth longest streak in team annals.
• The Gophers are 5-3 on the road this season, going 2-0 in the non-conference and 3-3 in Big Ten play. Kenisha Bell leads the Gophers with a 17.3 scoring average in road games this year, while Destiny Pitts (14.5) is also averaging double figures. Taiye Bello is the team's top rebounder on the road at 9.9 boards per game.
• Few teams in the country get to the free throw line more than Minnesota. Through Sunday, the Golden Gophers ranked fourth in the NCAA with 561 free throw attempts and fifth with 385 made free throws. Kenisha Bell has been the most prolific free throw shooter for the team, ranking second in the country in attempts (198) and sixth in makes (134), while Annalese Lamke ranks fifth in the B1G in percentage (80.0) and Destiny Pitts is eighth (78.7).
• Through the first seven games of Big Ten play, Destiny Pitts was averaging 9.6 points per contest while shooting 33.8 percent on field goals and 20.0 percent on 3-pointers, making 9-of-45 attempts from beyond the arc. Since then, she is averaging 18.2 points per game over the last six contests while shooting 40.5 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent on 3-pointers (20-for-46).
SERIES HISTORY WITH PURDUE
• Minnesota's four-game win streak in conference play is its longest since also winning four straight in Feb. of last season. A win Thursday would give the Gophers their first five-game win streak in league play since Feb. of 2015, tying for the sixth longest in program history. A win would also mark the third straight victory in the league on the road, which would tie for fourth longest streak in team annals.
• The Gophers are 5-3 on the road this season, going 2-0 in the non-conference and 3-3 in Big Ten play. Kenisha Bell leads the Gophers with a 17.3 scoring average in road games this year, while Destiny Pitts (14.5) is also averaging double figures. Taiye Bello is the team's top rebounder on the road at 9.9 boards per game.
• Few teams in the country get to the free throw line more than Minnesota. Through Sunday, the Golden Gophers ranked fourth in the NCAA with 561 free throw attempts and fifth with 385 made free throws. Kenisha Bell has been the most prolific free throw shooter for the team, ranking second in the country in attempts (198) and sixth in makes (134), while Annalese Lamke ranks fifth in the B1G in percentage (80.0) and Destiny Pitts is eighth (78.7).
• Through the first seven games of Big Ten play, Destiny Pitts was averaging 9.6 points per contest while shooting 33.8 percent on field goals and 20.0 percent on 3-pointers, making 9-of-45 attempts from beyond the arc. Since then, she is averaging 18.2 points per game over the last six contests while shooting 40.5 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent on 3-pointers (20-for-46).
SERIES HISTORY WITH PURDUE
• Minnesota and Purdue meet for the 67th time on Thursday. The Boilermakers hold a 46-20 edge in the series.
• In West Lafayette, Purdue holds a 24-7 series lead, though the Gophers have won two of the last three games at Mackey Arena.
• In her playing career, Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen was 2-4 against Purdue. She averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 49.4 percent from the floor, 35.7 percent on 3-pointers and 80.6 from the free throw line.
• Whalen's career high in points came against the Boilermakers when she scored 41 on Feb. 14, 2002. That total still stands as the seventh highest in team history.
• In West Lafayette, Purdue holds a 24-7 series lead, though the Gophers have won two of the last three games at Mackey Arena.
• In her playing career, Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen was 2-4 against Purdue. She averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 49.4 percent from the floor, 35.7 percent on 3-pointers and 80.6 from the free throw line.
• Whalen's career high in points came against the Boilermakers when she scored 41 on Feb. 14, 2002. That total still stands as the seventh highest in team history.
EARLIER THIS SEASON VS. THE BOILERMAKERS
• Despite 19 points from Destiny Pitts and 17 from Kenisha Bell, Minnesota lost at home to Purdue, 64-53, on Jan. 24.
• Pitts broke out of a shooting slump by going 5-of-11 (.455) against the Boilermakers. The five made 3's tied for the second most in a game on the year at the time, as did her 19 points. Pitts also had four assists.
• After being held to just three points on 1-of-7 shooting in the first half, Bell bounced back in the second half with 14 points by going 6-of-12 from the floor.
• Taiye Bello continued her strong play on the glass, pulling down 18 rebounds, including 13 on the defensive side.
• The Gophers held a 31-28 lead with less than two minutes elapsed in the third quarter, but Purdue scored seven straight points and 13 of the next 16 to grab the lead for good.
• Minnesota made it a two-point game when a 3-pointer from Bell cut the deficit to 43-31 to open the scoring in the fourth quarter. The Boilermakers pushed the lead back to six and the Gophers were never able to get closer than four points the rest of the way.
LAST TIME AT PURDUE
• Pitts broke out of a shooting slump by going 5-of-11 (.455) against the Boilermakers. The five made 3's tied for the second most in a game on the year at the time, as did her 19 points. Pitts also had four assists.
• After being held to just three points on 1-of-7 shooting in the first half, Bell bounced back in the second half with 14 points by going 6-of-12 from the floor.
• Taiye Bello continued her strong play on the glass, pulling down 18 rebounds, including 13 on the defensive side.
• The Gophers held a 31-28 lead with less than two minutes elapsed in the third quarter, but Purdue scored seven straight points and 13 of the next 16 to grab the lead for good.
• Minnesota made it a two-point game when a 3-pointer from Bell cut the deficit to 43-31 to open the scoring in the fourth quarter. The Boilermakers pushed the lead back to six and the Gophers were never able to get closer than four points the rest of the way.
LAST TIME AT PURDUE
• Minnesota snapped the seven-game home win streak of Purdue with a 78-74 victory when the teams last met in West Lafayette, Ind., on Feb. 8, 2018.
• Kenisha Bell led all scorers with 22 points, to go with nine assists, five rebounds and five steals. Destiny Pitts added 18 points, including 16 in the first half.
• Gadiva Hubbard also reached double figures with 17 points, bolstered by three 3-pointers, and five steals. Off the bench, Taiye Bello contributed nine points and 10 rebounds, helping Minnesota to a 42-31 rebounding edge for the game.
• After giving up 27 points in the first quarter, the Minnesota defense buckled down and allowed just 13 points in the second. Trailing 36-34 with 7:20 to play in the first half, Minnesota closed out the quarter by going on a game-turning 13-4 run to lead 47-40 at halftime.
• The Gophers kept up their momentum coming out of the locker room at halftime, using an early 14-7 run to extend a lead they would not relinquish. Minnesota led by as many as 16 in the frame.
• Purdue made a game of it in the fourth quarter, cutting the Gophers' lead from 66-53 at the start of the fourth to 70-67 with 4:53 to play. Minnesota pushed the lead back to eight with 2:47 left, but the Boilermakers again fought back and trimmed the lead to three points with 15 seconds to play. Bell iced the game away though at the free throw line.
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER NORTHWESTERN
• Kenisha Bell led all scorers with 22 points, to go with nine assists, five rebounds and five steals. Destiny Pitts added 18 points, including 16 in the first half.
• Gadiva Hubbard also reached double figures with 17 points, bolstered by three 3-pointers, and five steals. Off the bench, Taiye Bello contributed nine points and 10 rebounds, helping Minnesota to a 42-31 rebounding edge for the game.
• After giving up 27 points in the first quarter, the Minnesota defense buckled down and allowed just 13 points in the second. Trailing 36-34 with 7:20 to play in the first half, Minnesota closed out the quarter by going on a game-turning 13-4 run to lead 47-40 at halftime.
• The Gophers kept up their momentum coming out of the locker room at halftime, using an early 14-7 run to extend a lead they would not relinquish. Minnesota led by as many as 16 in the frame.
• Purdue made a game of it in the fourth quarter, cutting the Gophers' lead from 66-53 at the start of the fourth to 70-67 with 4:53 to play. Minnesota pushed the lead back to eight with 2:47 left, but the Boilermakers again fought back and trimmed the lead to three points with 15 seconds to play. Bell iced the game away though at the free throw line.
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER NORTHWESTERN
• Playing in overtime for the first time this season, Minnesota outlasted Northwestern Sunday at Williams Arena, 73-64. The win, which was the 700th in program history, gave the Golden Gophers a regular season sweep of the Wildcats.
• The Golden Gophers were up 54-49 with 5:10 left to play in the game when the Wildcats went on a 9-0 run to lead 58-54 with 59 seconds remaining. The Gophers had an answer, though, as Destiny Pitts' basket cut the lead to two with 52 seconds to play. After forcing a missed shot, Kenisha Bell grabbed an offensive rebound on the other end and laid it in with seven seconds left to tie the game at 58-58.
• The extra session belonged to Minnesota as the Gophers came roaring out of the gates, scoring the first nine points to put the Gophers ahead 67-58 with 2:06 remaining in overtime. Northwestern would get as close as five points with 1:20 to go, but Pitts made all four of her free throws down the stretch to give the Gophers their fourth straight win.
• Bell posted her fourth double-double of the season and her 11th as a Gopher as she finished with a game-high 24 points and matched a season high with 11 rebounds. She was 11-for-22 from the floor, setting a season high in made field goals, and she also dished out five assists and recorded five steals
• Pitts, who played all 45 minutes to tie a career high, notched her second highest scoring total of the season with 21. She made her first four attempts from 3-point range in the first half to ignite the offense early, and was 7-of-8 at the free throw line. All seven free throws came in overtime. She added six rebounds.
• Jasmine Brunson reached double figures for the third time in the last four games as she went for 14 points while playing a career-high 45 minutes.
• The Golden Gophers were up 54-49 with 5:10 left to play in the game when the Wildcats went on a 9-0 run to lead 58-54 with 59 seconds remaining. The Gophers had an answer, though, as Destiny Pitts' basket cut the lead to two with 52 seconds to play. After forcing a missed shot, Kenisha Bell grabbed an offensive rebound on the other end and laid it in with seven seconds left to tie the game at 58-58.
• The extra session belonged to Minnesota as the Gophers came roaring out of the gates, scoring the first nine points to put the Gophers ahead 67-58 with 2:06 remaining in overtime. Northwestern would get as close as five points with 1:20 to go, but Pitts made all four of her free throws down the stretch to give the Gophers their fourth straight win.
• Bell posted her fourth double-double of the season and her 11th as a Gopher as she finished with a game-high 24 points and matched a season high with 11 rebounds. She was 11-for-22 from the floor, setting a season high in made field goals, and she also dished out five assists and recorded five steals
• Pitts, who played all 45 minutes to tie a career high, notched her second highest scoring total of the season with 21. She made her first four attempts from 3-point range in the first half to ignite the offense early, and was 7-of-8 at the free throw line. All seven free throws came in overtime. She added six rebounds.
• Jasmine Brunson reached double figures for the third time in the last four games as she went for 14 points while playing a career-high 45 minutes.
MORE NOTES ON THE FOUR-GAME WIN STREAK
• During the team's current four-game win streak, Kenisha Bell has been the team's top scorer at 20.5 points/game, while Destiny Pitts (17.8) and Jasmine Brunson (12.0) are also in double figures. Taiye Bello has averaged 13.3 rebounds/game during the run.
• The Gophers' defense has clamped down during the stretch, making notable improvements in several stats compared to the first nine games of conference play. Points per game allowed has gone from 67.4 to 56.2, while opponent field goal percentage has dropped 63 points to .386 and opponent 3-point percentage has dropped 134 points to .246. Turnovers forced have gone up 4.1 per game to 18.3, while steals per game have also gone up from 5.6 to 9.0.
• The offense has also made improvements in 3-point percentage (28.2 percent to 35.0) and free-throw percentage (67.6 percent to 73.3) during the streak.
GOPHERS GAINING EXPERIENCE IN NEW ROLES
• Even though two-thirds of Minnesota's roster consists of upperclassmen, the Gophers actually have the fewest combined career minutes of any roster in the Big Ten, according to research initially done by Nebraska's Communications office.
• Through Feb. 11, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 11,066 minutes, while no other team in the league had fewer than 11,400 combined minutes. For further context, Thursday's opponent, Purdue, ranks 11th in the Big Ten with 11,941 combined minutes.
• Not only is the team playing under a new coaching staff, all five members of the starting lineup that has been used for most of the season have been playing in different positions than they did a year ago. Among returning starters, Kenisha Bell has gone from the 1 to the 2, while Destiny Pitts has mostly played the 3 this season after playing the 4 a year ago.
• Meanwhile, Jasmine Brunson (1), Taiye Bello (4) and Annalese Lamke (5) have all started a majority of the games this season after primarily coming off the bench a year ago. In addition, Irene Garrido Perez has also made the first six starts of her career this year. All four have seen double-digit jumps in their minutes per game this season: Brunson (+19.8), Lamke (+19.2), Bello (+14.4) and Garrido Perez (+13.0).
• Through Feb. 11, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 11,066 minutes, while no other team in the league had fewer than 11,400 combined minutes. For further context, Thursday's opponent, Purdue, ranks 11th in the Big Ten with 11,941 combined minutes.
• Not only is the team playing under a new coaching staff, all five members of the starting lineup that has been used for most of the season have been playing in different positions than they did a year ago. Among returning starters, Kenisha Bell has gone from the 1 to the 2, while Destiny Pitts has mostly played the 3 this season after playing the 4 a year ago.
• Meanwhile, Jasmine Brunson (1), Taiye Bello (4) and Annalese Lamke (5) have all started a majority of the games this season after primarily coming off the bench a year ago. In addition, Irene Garrido Perez has also made the first six starts of her career this year. All four have seen double-digit jumps in their minutes per game this season: Brunson (+19.8), Lamke (+19.2), Bello (+14.4) and Garrido Perez (+13.0).
BELLO DOMINATING THE GLASS
• Through Sunday, Taiye Bello was third in the country and leading the Big Ten in total rebounds (307) offensive rebounds per game (5), while her 12.8 rebounds per game also was tops in the B1G and fourth nationally. She was also 19th in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (8) and 44th in double-doubles (9).
• Bello is also currently the most improved rebounder in the Big Ten, upping her rebounds per game total from 6.3 last year to a conferece-best 12.8 this year. The +6.5 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 5.3 per game (+4.6). Aside from Bello and Lamke, no other player in the B1G has improved their average by more than +3.5.
• Bello has 16 games this year with at least 10 rebounds, 10 games with at least 15 boards, seven games with at least 18 rebounds and one game with at least 20.
• Against No. 17 Rutgers on Feb. 3, Bello posted her ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 21 rebounds. It tied for the sixth highest total in Gopher history, and they were the most by a Gopher since Amanda Zahui B. had 22 rebounds against DePaul in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Ten of the rebounds were on the offensive end, while the other 11 came on defense.
• Bello's 21 rebounds are also tied for the most by any Big Ten player this year with Maryland's Shakira Austin.
• Bello has 13 double-doubles in her career, and Minnesota is 11-2 in those games.
• She had her first B1G double-double of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Iowa and pulled down 18 rebounds in back-to-back games versus Purdue and Ohio State.
• At Michigan on Dec. 31, 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.
• Arguably Bello's best performance of the season came against No. 12 Syracuse when she went for 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, including 10 offensive.
• Bello posted double-doubles in the first three games this season, becoming the first Minnesota player to have three straight double-doubles since Amanda Zahui B. ended the 2014-15 season with four in a row. And though she didn't have a double-double against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in game four, she did have 19 rebounds.
• Bello is also currently the most improved rebounder in the Big Ten, upping her rebounds per game total from 6.3 last year to a conferece-best 12.8 this year. The +6.5 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 5.3 per game (+4.6). Aside from Bello and Lamke, no other player in the B1G has improved their average by more than +3.5.
• Bello has 16 games this year with at least 10 rebounds, 10 games with at least 15 boards, seven games with at least 18 rebounds and one game with at least 20.
• Against No. 17 Rutgers on Feb. 3, Bello posted her ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 21 rebounds. It tied for the sixth highest total in Gopher history, and they were the most by a Gopher since Amanda Zahui B. had 22 rebounds against DePaul in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Ten of the rebounds were on the offensive end, while the other 11 came on defense.
• Bello's 21 rebounds are also tied for the most by any Big Ten player this year with Maryland's Shakira Austin.
• Bello has 13 double-doubles in her career, and Minnesota is 11-2 in those games.
• She had her first B1G double-double of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Iowa and pulled down 18 rebounds in back-to-back games versus Purdue and Ohio State.
• At Michigan on Dec. 31, 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.
• Arguably Bello's best performance of the season came against No. 12 Syracuse when she went for 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, including 10 offensive.
• Bello posted double-doubles in the first three games this season, becoming the first Minnesota player to have three straight double-doubles since Amanda Zahui B. ended the 2014-15 season with four in a row. And though she didn't have a double-double against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in game four, she did have 19 rebounds.
BELL FINISHING STRONG IN SENIOR SEASON
• Senior Kenisha Bell leads the Gophers in several categories, including points per game (19.0), assists per game (4.2) and steals per game (2.2).
• Nationally, Bell is second in free throw attempts (198) and ranks sixth in free throws made (134).
• She leads the Big Ten in free throws attempted and steals (47), ranks second in field goals attempted (390), field goals made (154), points scored (455), steals per game and free throws made, and is third in scoring average.
• After being named to preseason watch lists for the Nancy Lieberman Award (nation's top PG) and Naismith Trophy (nation's top player), Bell earned spots on midseason watch lists for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Award.
• Bell has also been a four-time Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll honoree.
• At Indiana on Feb. 6, Bell went over 2,000 career points. She scored 434 in her freshman season at Marquette and has scored 1,598 at Minnesota for a total of 2,032 career points.
• Nationally, Bell is second in free throw attempts (198) and ranks sixth in free throws made (134).
• She leads the Big Ten in free throws attempted and steals (47), ranks second in field goals attempted (390), field goals made (154), points scored (455), steals per game and free throws made, and is third in scoring average.
• After being named to preseason watch lists for the Nancy Lieberman Award (nation's top PG) and Naismith Trophy (nation's top player), Bell earned spots on midseason watch lists for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Award.
• Bell has also been a four-time Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll honoree.
• At Indiana on Feb. 6, Bell went over 2,000 career points. She scored 434 in her freshman season at Marquette and has scored 1,598 at Minnesota for a total of 2,032 career points.
BRUNSON MAKES MARK IN RETURN TO STARTING LINEUP
• After starting the first 18 games of the season, junior Jasmine Brunson came off the bench for the next two contests. She then returned to the starting lineup against Northwestern on Jan. 31 and has elevated her offense ever since.
• Through the first 20 games of the year, Brunson was averaging 7.2 points and shooting 36.2 percent from the floor. In four games since returning to the starting lineup, she's averaging 12.0 points while shooting 43.9 percent.
• On the year, Brunson is averaging 8.0 points per game after averaging 2.9 last season. That +5.1 increase is third best in the B1G behind teammate Annalese Lamke (+8.1) and Purdue's Karissa McLaughlin (+5.2).
• Through the first 20 games of the year, Brunson was averaging 7.2 points and shooting 36.2 percent from the floor. In four games since returning to the starting lineup, she's averaging 12.0 points while shooting 43.9 percent.
• On the year, Brunson is averaging 8.0 points per game after averaging 2.9 last season. That +5.1 increase is third best in the B1G behind teammate Annalese Lamke (+8.1) and Purdue's Karissa McLaughlin (+5.2).
GARRIDO PEREZ GETS CALLED INTO STARTING LINEUP
• Irene Garrido Perez has been called into the starting lineup for the last six contests, with Minnesota going 4-2 in those contests.
• Since making the first start of her career against Purdue on Jan. 24, Garrido Perez has averaged 5.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game while playing 35.3 minutes per game. Prior to that, her career totals in those categories were 1.6 points, 0.6 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.2 steals while averaging 8.5 minutes.
• During the team's four game win streak, Garrido Perez is shooting 45.5 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent on 3-pointers, averaging 6.8 points per contest.
• Since making the first start of her career against Purdue on Jan. 24, Garrido Perez has averaged 5.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game while playing 35.3 minutes per game. Prior to that, her career totals in those categories were 1.6 points, 0.6 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.2 steals while averaging 8.5 minutes.
• During the team's four game win streak, Garrido Perez is shooting 45.5 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent on 3-pointers, averaging 6.8 points per contest.
MINNESOTA NEAR THE TOP IN ATTENDANCE
• Through 16 home games, the Gophers have had a total attendance of 89,713 with an average of 5,607 per contest. Through Feb. 9, the team ranked eighth in the country in total attendance and No. 13 in average.
• Within the Big Ten, only Purdue has a higher total attendance and only Purdue and Maryland have a higher average attendance.
• The average per game is the highest for the Gophers since 2008-09 when they averaged 5,833 and it's nearly 2,500 more than they averaged last year (3,130).
• 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.
• Within the Big Ten, only Purdue has a higher total attendance and only Purdue and Maryland have a higher average attendance.
• The average per game is the highest for the Gophers since 2008-09 when they averaged 5,833 and it's nearly 2,500 more than they averaged last year (3,130).
• 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 a player or coach.
• The season-opening sellout stood as the highest attendance for any women's game this season until it was passed on Jan. 31 by the 17,023 that saw No. 2 UConn play at No. 3 Louisville.
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