University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, February 6
Bloomington, Ind.
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Indiana
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Bruce Kluckhohn
Minnesota Visits Indiana Wednesday Night
2/5/2019 2:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS --Â Minnesota (15-7, 4-7 B1G) heads back out on the road to face Indiana (17-6, 6-5) Thursday night at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. It's the fourth game of an eight-game stretch where Minnesota alternates between home and road.
The game will be streamed on BTN Plus and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
The game will be streamed on BTN Plus and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Few teams in the country get to the free throw line more than Minnesota. Through Sunday's games, the Golden Gophers ranked second in the NCAA with 517 attempts, behind only Notre Dame (532). Meanwhile, Minnesota's 353 made free throws sat seventh nationally. Kenisha Bell has been the most prolific free throw shooter for Minnesota, ranking third nationally in attempts (179) and fifth in makes (122), while Annalese Lamke ranks fifth in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (80.0) and Destiny Pitts is 10th (76.4).Â
• The Gophers are 4-3 in road games this season. They won both their non-conference matchups, winning at Xavier in the second game of the season on Nov. 14 and at Boston College on Dec. 9. Within conference play, Minnesota has dropped contests at Michigan on Dec. 31, Michigan State on Jan. 9 and Nebraska on Jan. 20, but defeated Wisconsin in Madison on Jan. 17 and Northwestern in Evanston on Jan. 31. Senior Kenisha Bell leads the Gophers with a 16.6 scoring average in road games this year, while sophomore Destiny Pitts (14.1) is also averaging double figures. Junior Taiye Bello is the team's top rebounder on the road at 9.3 boards per game.
• Minnesota enters Thursday's game in the "receiving votes" portion of the AP Poll for the third straight week. Prior to that, the Gophers had a 10-week run in the AP Poll, their longest such streak since appearing in all 18 polls during the 2005-06 season.
• Through the first seven games of Big Ten play, Destiny Pitts was averaging 9.6 points per game 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 a team-high 17.8 points per game while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 50.0 percent on 3-pointers (15-for-30) over the last four contests.
• After Sunday's win over No. 17 Rutgers, the Golden Gophers are 2-2 this season against Top-25 teams. Previously, the Gophers topped then-No. 12 Syracuse, 72-68, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 29. The Gophers' losses, meanwhile, came at No. 23 Michigan State on Jan. 9 and at home to No. 22 Iowa on Jan. 14.
Â
SERIES HISTORY WITH INDIANA
LAST SEASON VS. THE HOOSIERS
Â
BELL FINISHING STRONG IN SENIOR SEASON
• Bell has also been a three-time Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll honoree.
Â
• 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 Gophers are 4-3 in road games this season. They won both their non-conference matchups, winning at Xavier in the second game of the season on Nov. 14 and at Boston College on Dec. 9. Within conference play, Minnesota has dropped contests at Michigan on Dec. 31, Michigan State on Jan. 9 and Nebraska on Jan. 20, but defeated Wisconsin in Madison on Jan. 17 and Northwestern in Evanston on Jan. 31. Senior Kenisha Bell leads the Gophers with a 16.6 scoring average in road games this year, while sophomore Destiny Pitts (14.1) is also averaging double figures. Junior Taiye Bello is the team's top rebounder on the road at 9.3 boards per game.
• Minnesota enters Thursday's game in the "receiving votes" portion of the AP Poll for the third straight week. Prior to that, the Gophers had a 10-week run in the AP Poll, their longest such streak since appearing in all 18 polls during the 2005-06 season.
• Through the first seven games of Big Ten play, Destiny Pitts was averaging 9.6 points per game 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 a team-high 17.8 points per game while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 50.0 percent on 3-pointers (15-for-30) over the last four contests.
• After Sunday's win over No. 17 Rutgers, the Golden Gophers are 2-2 this season against Top-25 teams. Previously, the Gophers topped then-No. 12 Syracuse, 72-68, in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 29. The Gophers' losses, meanwhile, came at No. 23 Michigan State on Jan. 9 and at home to No. 22 Iowa on Jan. 14.
Â
Our @LisaByington goes one-on-one with @GopherWBB player Destiny Pitts...in an interview setting 👇 pic.twitter.com/S8GDW8zyWo
— Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) February 4, 2019
SERIES HISTORY WITH INDIANA
• Minnesota and Indiana will meet for the 67th time on Thursday with the Gophers holding a 36-30 lead in the all-time series. Indiana has won the last three in the series, though. Minnesota's last win in the series came on Jan. 17, 2016.
• The 36 wins are tied for the Gophers' second most against one team along with Northwestern. The only team Minnesota has beaten more is Wisconsin (42).
• The .545 win percentage for Minnesota is also tied for its second best against teams they've played at least 20 times along with Wisconsin (42-35). Only a .547 win percentage against Michigan (35-29) is better.
• In Bloomington, Indiana leads the series 16-14, including three straight victories. The .467 win percentage for Minnesota in those games is actually its second best among teams its played at least 10 times on the road, behind a .486 mark at Wisconsin (17-18). The Gophers' last win in Bloomington came on March 3, 2013.
• In her playing career, Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen was 3-3 against Indiana. She averaged 18.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent on 3's and 78.6 percent from the free throw line.
• The 36 wins are tied for the Gophers' second most against one team along with Northwestern. The only team Minnesota has beaten more is Wisconsin (42).
• The .545 win percentage for Minnesota is also tied for its second best against teams they've played at least 20 times along with Wisconsin (42-35). Only a .547 win percentage against Michigan (35-29) is better.
• In Bloomington, Indiana leads the series 16-14, including three straight victories. The .467 win percentage for Minnesota in those games is actually its second best among teams its played at least 10 times on the road, behind a .486 mark at Wisconsin (17-18). The Gophers' last win in Bloomington came on March 3, 2013.
• In her playing career, Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen was 3-3 against Indiana. She averaged 18.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent on 3's and 78.6 percent from the free throw line.
LAST SEASON VS. THE HOOSIERS
• Carlie Wagner scored 34 points on senior night, but Minnesota lost 82-70 to Indiana when the teams last met on Feb. 20, 2018, in Minneapolis.
• Kenisha Bell reached double figures with 11 points and added eight assists, seven rebounds and six steals, while Destiny Pitts contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Taiye Bello, making just her third start of the year, led the team with nine rebounds and finished with seven points.
• After Minnesota jumped out to a 7-0 lead and Indiana followed with a 6-0 run, the game did not see a lead larger than four points for either team until Indiana pulled ahead 68-63 with 3:52 to play.Â
• Trailing by five, the Gophers were able to cut it to 68-66 with 2:27 to play, but the Hoosiers responded with a 9-0 run to pull away late.
• The game featured 15 ties and 13 lead changes.
• As a team, the Gophers had 18 steals, their most since recording 19 against North Dakota State on Nov. 20, 2011.
LAST TIME AT INDIANA
• Kenisha Bell reached double figures with 11 points and added eight assists, seven rebounds and six steals, while Destiny Pitts contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three steals. Taiye Bello, making just her third start of the year, led the team with nine rebounds and finished with seven points.
• After Minnesota jumped out to a 7-0 lead and Indiana followed with a 6-0 run, the game did not see a lead larger than four points for either team until Indiana pulled ahead 68-63 with 3:52 to play.Â
• Trailing by five, the Gophers were able to cut it to 68-66 with 2:27 to play, but the Hoosiers responded with a 9-0 run to pull away late.
• The game featured 15 ties and 13 lead changes.
• As a team, the Gophers had 18 steals, their most since recording 19 against North Dakota State on Nov. 20, 2011.
LAST TIME AT INDIANA
• The teams last met in Bloomington on Jan. 4, 2017, when the Hoosiers beat the Gophers, 78-62.
• Minnesota outscored Indiana 39-35 in the second half, but couldn't overcome a 42-23 halftime deficit.
• Kenisha Bell led the Gophers with 23 points to go along with nine rebounds and four steals. Carlie Wagner also scored in double figures with 11 points. Whitney Tinjum had nine points and nine rebounds, and Bryanna Fernstrom had seven points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
• The Gophers outrebounded Indiana 47-40, but turned the ball over 22 times. The Hoosiers shot 10-for-23 from 3-point range while the Gophers made one triple.
Â
• Minnesota outscored Indiana 39-35 in the second half, but couldn't overcome a 42-23 halftime deficit.
• Kenisha Bell led the Gophers with 23 points to go along with nine rebounds and four steals. Carlie Wagner also scored in double figures with 11 points. Whitney Tinjum had nine points and nine rebounds, and Bryanna Fernstrom had seven points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
• The Gophers outrebounded Indiana 47-40, but turned the ball over 22 times. The Hoosiers shot 10-for-23 from 3-point range while the Gophers made one triple.
Â
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER NO. 17 RUTGERS
• A stingy Minnesota defense led the way as the Golden Gophers knocked off first-place No. 17/19 Rutgers, 60-46, Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena.
• The Golden Gophers held the Scarlet Knights to just 33.9 percent shooting, including 26.7 percent in a pivotal third quarter. The 46 points scored by Rutgers were 21 points fewer than their conference scoring average entering the game and was also the lowest total by a Big Ten opponent versus the Gophers since an 80-46 win over Rutgers on Feb. 11, 2017.
• Taiye Bello posted her ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, which marked the sixth highest total in Gopher history and were the most by a Gopher since Amanda Zahui B. had 22 against DePaul in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
• Bello was one of four Gophers in double figures with Kenisha Bell leading the way with 19 points. Destiny Pitts added 14 points, while Jasmine Brunson chipped in with 13 points.
• Tied 10-10 after the first quarter, Rutgers dominated most of the second quarter as they opened on a 9-0 run through the first 5:55. The Gophers were able to end the first half on a high note, though, thanks to a 7-2 run and trailed 23-17 at the break.Â
• The third quarter was all Minnesota as it outscored Rutgers, 22-10. Down 31-26 with 3:36 to play in the third, the Gophers embarked on an 11-0 run in just 1:18 on the clock.
• Extending into the fourth quarter, the run ended up being 16-2 for Minnesota and it led 42-33 less than 30 seconds into the final quarter. From there, Rutgers never got closer than five points.
• The Golden Gophers held the Scarlet Knights to just 33.9 percent shooting, including 26.7 percent in a pivotal third quarter. The 46 points scored by Rutgers were 21 points fewer than their conference scoring average entering the game and was also the lowest total by a Big Ten opponent versus the Gophers since an 80-46 win over Rutgers on Feb. 11, 2017.
• Taiye Bello posted her ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, which marked the sixth highest total in Gopher history and were the most by a Gopher since Amanda Zahui B. had 22 against DePaul in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
• Bello was one of four Gophers in double figures with Kenisha Bell leading the way with 19 points. Destiny Pitts added 14 points, while Jasmine Brunson chipped in with 13 points.
• Tied 10-10 after the first quarter, Rutgers dominated most of the second quarter as they opened on a 9-0 run through the first 5:55. The Gophers were able to end the first half on a high note, though, thanks to a 7-2 run and trailed 23-17 at the break.Â
• The third quarter was all Minnesota as it outscored Rutgers, 22-10. Down 31-26 with 3:36 to play in the third, the Gophers embarked on an 11-0 run in just 1:18 on the clock.
• Extending into the fourth quarter, the run ended up being 16-2 for Minnesota and it led 42-33 less than 30 seconds into the final quarter. From there, Rutgers never got closer than five points.
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. 4, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 10,641 minutes, while no other team in the league had fewer than 11,000 combined minutes. For further context, Thursday's opponent, Indiana, was eighth in the Big Ten with 11,995 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 moved from the 4 to the 3.
• 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 four starts of her career this year. All four have seen double-digit jumps in their minutes per game this season with Lamke leading the way at +20.1 this season, followed by Brunson (+19.1), Bello (+13.6) and Garrido Perez (+11.0).
Â
• Through Feb. 4, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 10,641 minutes, while no other team in the league had fewer than 11,000 combined minutes. For further context, Thursday's opponent, Indiana, was eighth in the Big Ten with 11,995 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 moved from the 4 to the 3.
• 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 four starts of her career this year. All four have seen double-digit jumps in their minutes per game this season with Lamke leading the way at +20.1 this season, followed by Brunson (+19.1), Bello (+13.6) and Garrido Perez (+11.0).
Â
BELLO DOMINATING THE GLASS
• Through Sunday, Taiye Bello was third in the country in total rebounds (284), rebounds per game (12.9) and offensive rebounds per game (5). She was also 18th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (8) and 32nd 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 12.9 this year. The +6.6 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 5.7 per game (+5.0). Aside from Bello and Lamke, no other player in the B1G has improved by more than +3.6.
• At 10.1 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, Bello is one of three players in the Big Ten to average a double-double, along with Iowa's Megan Gustafson (26.6/12.6) and Northwestern's Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah (11.9/11.3).
• Bello has 15 games this year with at least 10 rebounds, 10 games with at least 15 boards and seven games with at least 18 rebounds.
• 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 has 13 double-doubles in her career, and Minnesota is 11-2 in those games.
• Bello's 21 rebounds are also tied for the most by any Big Ten player this year with Maryland's Shakira Austin.Â
• 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 12.9 this year. The +6.6 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 5.7 per game (+5.0). Aside from Bello and Lamke, no other player in the B1G has improved by more than +3.6.
• At 10.1 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, Bello is one of three players in the Big Ten to average a double-double, along with Iowa's Megan Gustafson (26.6/12.6) and Northwestern's Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah (11.9/11.3).
• Bello has 15 games this year with at least 10 rebounds, 10 games with at least 15 boards and seven games with at least 18 rebounds.
• 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 has 13 double-doubles in her career, and Minnesota is 11-2 in those games.
• Bello's 21 rebounds are also tied for the most by any Big Ten player this year with Maryland's Shakira Austin.Â
• 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 (18.6), assists per game (4.3) and steals per game (2.0).
• Nationally, Bell is one of the best at getting to the free throw line, ranking third in attempts (179) and fifth in makes (122).
• She leads the Big Ten in free throws attempted and made and steals (45), ranks second in field goals made (138) and attempted (347) and is third in scoring average and steals per game.
• 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.
• Nationally, Bell is one of the best at getting to the free throw line, ranking third in attempts (179) and fifth in makes (122).
• She leads the Big Ten in free throws attempted and made and steals (45), ranks second in field goals made (138) and attempted (347) and is third in scoring average and steals per game.
• 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 three-time Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll honoree.
Â
BRUNSON MAKES MARK IN RETURN TO STARTING LINEUP
• After starting the first 18 games of the season, 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.
• Through the first 20 games of the year, Brunson was averaging 7.2 points while shooting 36.2 percent from the floor, 29.7 percent on 3-pointers and 65.5 percent at the line.Â
• In two games since returning to the starting lineup, she's averaging 13.5 points while shooting 47.6 percent on field goals, 33.3 percent on 3's and 66.7 percent at the line.Â
• On the year, Brunson is averaging 7.7 points per game after averaging 2.9 last season. That +4.8 increase is third best in the B1G behind teammate Annalese Lamke (+8.8) and Purdue's Karissa McLaughlin (+5.0).Â
Â
• Through the first 20 games of the year, Brunson was averaging 7.2 points while shooting 36.2 percent from the floor, 29.7 percent on 3-pointers and 65.5 percent at the line.Â
• In two games since returning to the starting lineup, she's averaging 13.5 points while shooting 47.6 percent on field goals, 33.3 percent on 3's and 66.7 percent at the line.Â
• On the year, Brunson is averaging 7.7 points per game after averaging 2.9 last season. That +4.8 increase is third best in the B1G behind teammate Annalese Lamke (+8.8) and Purdue's Karissa McLaughlin (+5.0).Â
Â
MINNESOTA NEAR THE TOP IN ATTENDANCE
• Through 15 home games, the Gophers have had a total attendance of 84,238 with an average of 5,616 per contest. Through Feb. 4, the team ranks 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.Â
• 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.Â
• 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.
Follow Minnesota Women's Basketball
Women's Basketball Tickets
Experience the excitement and tradition connecting generations of Gopher fans! Create memories for a lifetime with your friends and family while you root for your Golden Gophers. Get Tickets
Support Women's Basketball
Support the University of Minnesota Women's Basketball program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now
Highlights: Gophers 57, USF 45
Monday, November 24
Highlights: Gophers 57, Kansas 63
Wednesday, November 19
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-NJIT
Saturday, November 15
Highlights: Gophers 88, NJIT 39
Friday, November 14