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University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, February 10
Williams Arena
1:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Northwestern
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ 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 Back at the Barn Sunday to Host Northwestern
2/9/2019 11:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- Riding a three-game win streak, Minnesota (16-7, 5-7 B1G) returns to Williams Arena Sunday to host Northwestern (14-9, 7-5) at 1 p.m. It's the fifth game of an eight-game stretch where Minnesota alternates between home and road.
The game will be televised on Big Ten Network and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
PROMOTIONS
• Gopher Women's Basketball Alumni Day: Welcome back Gopher greats to Williams Arena
• Cub Family 4-Pack: 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 popcorn and 4 drinks for $50
• Postgame: Autographs
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
SERIES HISTORY WITH NORTHWESTERN
EARLIER THIS SEASON VS. THE WILDCATS
BELL FINISHING STRONG IN SENIOR SEASON
• Bell has also been a three-time Big Ten Player of the Week Honor Roll honoree.
• 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 No. 2 UConn at No. 3 Louisville.
The game will be televised on Big Ten Network and can also be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
PROMOTIONS
• 2004 Final Four 15-Year Anniversary: Replica Final Four rings to the first 1,000 fans
• Gopher Women's Basketball Alumni Day: Welcome back Gopher greats to Williams Arena
• Gopher Score Day: $6 tickets to Gopher Score members
• Cub Family 4-Pack: 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 popcorn and 4 drinks for $50
• Halftime: Final Four celebration and alumni recognition
• Postgame: Autographs
• Minnesota and Northwestern will be meeting for the second time in 10 days as the teams recently played in Evanston on Jan. 31. The Golden Gophers prevailed in that contest, 61-54, to push their win streak in the series to three games.
• Holding an all-time record of 699-662 (.514), the Gophers are one win away from the 700th victory in program history.
• The Gophers are 11-4 in home games this season, including 10 straight home wins to open the year, tying for the sixth longest home win streak in program history. All-time, Minnesota boasts a .694 winning percentage at The Barn (349-154). Kenisha Bell is the team's leading scorer at home this year, averaging 19.5 points per game, while Destiny Pitts (13.1), Taiye Bello (10.3) and Annalese Lamke (10.0) are also averaging double figures. Bello is also the team's top rebounder at home with 14.6 boards per game.
• Few teams in the country get to the free throw line more than Minnesota. Through Wednesday's games, the Golden Gophers ranked second in the NCAA with 517 attempts, behind only Sam Houston State (548). In addition, Minnesota's 373 made free throws were third nationally. Kenisha Bell has been the most prolific free throw shooter for Minnesota, leading the country in attempts (196) and ranking third in makes (133), while Annalese Lamke ranks fourth in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (80.0) and Destiny Pitts is ninth (77.8).
• 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 17.6 points per game over the last five contests while shooting 42.2 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent on 3-pointers (16-for-36).
• Minnesota enters Sunday'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.
• Holding an all-time record of 699-662 (.514), the Gophers are one win away from the 700th victory in program history.
• The Gophers are 11-4 in home games this season, including 10 straight home wins to open the year, tying for the sixth longest home win streak in program history. All-time, Minnesota boasts a .694 winning percentage at The Barn (349-154). Kenisha Bell is the team's leading scorer at home this year, averaging 19.5 points per game, while Destiny Pitts (13.1), Taiye Bello (10.3) and Annalese Lamke (10.0) are also averaging double figures. Bello is also the team's top rebounder at home with 14.6 boards per game.
• Few teams in the country get to the free throw line more than Minnesota. Through Wednesday's games, the Golden Gophers ranked second in the NCAA with 517 attempts, behind only Sam Houston State (548). In addition, Minnesota's 373 made free throws were third nationally. Kenisha Bell has been the most prolific free throw shooter for Minnesota, leading the country in attempts (196) and ranking third in makes (133), while Annalese Lamke ranks fourth in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (80.0) and Destiny Pitts is ninth (77.8).
• 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 17.6 points per game over the last five contests while shooting 42.2 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent on 3-pointers (16-for-36).
• Minnesota enters Sunday'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.
SERIES HISTORY WITH NORTHWESTERN
• Minnesota and Northwestern will meet for the second time this season and 73rd time ever on Sunday. Following the Golden Gophers win earlier this year, the all-time series is tied up at 36-36. Minnesota has won three straight and five of the last six in the series, however.
• In Minneapolis, the Gophers hold an 19-12 series lead. Minnesota has won three straight and 12 of the past 13 against the Wildcats at Williams Arena.
• Northwestern has one Minnesotan on its roster: junior Abi Scheid from Elk River (Elk River High School).
• In her career, Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen has never lost to Northwestern, going 5-0 as a player and 1-0 as a coach. During her playing career, she averaged 22.0 points, 5.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game against the Wildcats, while shooting 60 percent from the floor and 78.6 percent from the free throw line.
• In Minneapolis, the Gophers hold an 19-12 series lead. Minnesota has won three straight and 12 of the past 13 against the Wildcats at Williams Arena.
• Northwestern has one Minnesotan on its roster: junior Abi Scheid from Elk River (Elk River High School).
• In her career, Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen has never lost to Northwestern, going 5-0 as a player and 1-0 as a coach. During her playing career, she averaged 22.0 points, 5.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game against the Wildcats, while shooting 60 percent from the floor and 78.6 percent from the free throw line.
EARLIER THIS SEASON VS. THE WILDCATS
• Minnesota and Northwestern played just 10 days ago in Evanston, with the Gophers notching a 61-54 victory thanks to three players scoring at least 14 points.
• Destiny Pitts led all scorers with 19 points, while Kenisha Bell added 17 and Jasmine Brunson posted 14 as the Gophers won their third in a row over the Wildcats and third straight in Evanston.
• The Gophers forced Northwestern into 19 turnovers, while the defense also forced the Wildcats to just 37.7 percent shooting.
• Minnesota led 19-10 after the fi rst quarter, thanks in part to nine turnovers forced, including six in a span of 3:15 at one point. The Wildcats turned the tables though in the second quarter as they used a 9-0 run to erase an 11-point deficit. Outscored 18-11 in the quarter, Minnesota still held a 30-28 halftime advantage. Bell scored 12 points in the first half, including nine in the first quarter alone.
• Minnesota came out firing in the second half, scoring the first nine points to push the lead to 39-28.
• The Gophers led 48-37 entering the fourth quarter, but Northwestern slowly chipped away at their lead. After a jumper by Brunson put Minnesota ahead 54-43 with 6:13 to go, the Wildcats scored six straight to close the gap to five points with 2:53 to play.
• Pitts provided relief, though, when she knocked down a big 3-pointer from the top of the key to stop the run and push the lead back to eight with 2:32 to play. Northwestern fought back, however, to score the next five points to make it a three-point game with 29 seconds to play. Pitts remained clutch down the stretch, though, as she made all four free throw attempts.
• Destiny Pitts led all scorers with 19 points, while Kenisha Bell added 17 and Jasmine Brunson posted 14 as the Gophers won their third in a row over the Wildcats and third straight in Evanston.
• The Gophers forced Northwestern into 19 turnovers, while the defense also forced the Wildcats to just 37.7 percent shooting.
• Minnesota led 19-10 after the fi rst quarter, thanks in part to nine turnovers forced, including six in a span of 3:15 at one point. The Wildcats turned the tables though in the second quarter as they used a 9-0 run to erase an 11-point deficit. Outscored 18-11 in the quarter, Minnesota still held a 30-28 halftime advantage. Bell scored 12 points in the first half, including nine in the first quarter alone.
• Minnesota came out firing in the second half, scoring the first nine points to push the lead to 39-28.
• The Gophers led 48-37 entering the fourth quarter, but Northwestern slowly chipped away at their lead. After a jumper by Brunson put Minnesota ahead 54-43 with 6:13 to go, the Wildcats scored six straight to close the gap to five points with 2:53 to play.
• Pitts provided relief, though, when she knocked down a big 3-pointer from the top of the key to stop the run and push the lead back to eight with 2:32 to play. Northwestern fought back, however, to score the next five points to make it a three-point game with 29 seconds to play. Pitts remained clutch down the stretch, though, as she made all four free throw attempts.
LAST TIME AT HOME AGAINST NORTHWESTERN
• When Minnesota last hosted Northwestern on Feb. 13, 2017, the Gophers built a 12-point halftime lead then held off the Wildcats for a 71-61 victory.
• Carlie Wagner scored 25 points, including five 3-pointers, while Kenisha Bell tallied 18 points with a 12-of-14 mark at the free throw line.
• Nia Coffey led the Wildcats with 33 points and 10 rebounds, and Ashley Deary had 11 points and five steals.
• Wagner scored 10 of the Gophers' first-quarter points, including a 3-pointer and a three-point play, as they went ahead 15-10. In the second quarter, the Gophers went on a 9-0 run to go up 32-20 and took at 34-22 lead into halftime.
• Northwestern went on a 13-1 run to tie the game at 35 less than four minutes into the second half. The third quarter featured four ties and four lead changes, including two game-tying drives by Brunson. The Gophers trailed 48-46 entering the last quarter.
• Minnesota regained the lead at 50-48 in the fourth. From there, the Gophers went up by as much as nine and the Wildcats did not get closer than four after that. Bell made nine of her 10 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
• Carlie Wagner scored 25 points, including five 3-pointers, while Kenisha Bell tallied 18 points with a 12-of-14 mark at the free throw line.
• Nia Coffey led the Wildcats with 33 points and 10 rebounds, and Ashley Deary had 11 points and five steals.
• Wagner scored 10 of the Gophers' first-quarter points, including a 3-pointer and a three-point play, as they went ahead 15-10. In the second quarter, the Gophers went on a 9-0 run to go up 32-20 and took at 34-22 lead into halftime.
• Northwestern went on a 13-1 run to tie the game at 35 less than four minutes into the second half. The third quarter featured four ties and four lead changes, including two game-tying drives by Brunson. The Gophers trailed 48-46 entering the last quarter.
• Minnesota regained the lead at 50-48 in the fourth. From there, the Gophers went up by as much as nine and the Wildcats did not get closer than four after that. Bell made nine of her 10 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
RECAPPING THE WIN AT INDIANA
• Leading for the majority of the game, Minnesota held off a late charge from Indiana to secure a 65-61 victory Wednesday night at Assembly Hall.
• Kenisha Bell was one of three Gophers in double figures as she led all scorers with 22 points and added seven rebounds. Half of her points came from the free throw line as she finished 11-of-17 at the charity stripe.
• Destiny Pitts chipped in with 17 points that included an 8-of-9 effort at the free throw line. As a team, the Gophers finished 20-of-28 at the free throw line.
• Irene Garrido Perez was perfect from the floor as she made all four shots, including all three 3-pointers. Nine of her career-high 11 points came in the first half. In addition, she set career highs for field goals made, 3-pointers made, rebounds (6) and minutes (40).
• Coming off a career-high 21 rebounds Sunday against Rutgers, Taiye Bello pulled down 14 boards Wednesday. Eight came on the offensive end, and she also scored six points and blocked three shots.
• Minnesota opened the game on a 14-4 run and led 16-8 after the first quarter. The lead was nine for Minnesota early in the second quarter, but Indiana closed the gap with an 8-0 run to make it 21-20 with just over five minutes remaining in the half. The Gophers scored the final six points, though, to lead 27-20 at halftime.
• Leading by eight after the third quarter, Minnesota was up 61-49 with 4:15 left in the game, but Indiana responded with 10 straight points to make it a 61-59 game with just 29 seconds to go. Missed shots by the Hoosiers down the stretch and made free throws by the Gophers, however, kept the game in Minnesota's favor.
• Kenisha Bell was one of three Gophers in double figures as she led all scorers with 22 points and added seven rebounds. Half of her points came from the free throw line as she finished 11-of-17 at the charity stripe.
• Destiny Pitts chipped in with 17 points that included an 8-of-9 effort at the free throw line. As a team, the Gophers finished 20-of-28 at the free throw line.
• Irene Garrido Perez was perfect from the floor as she made all four shots, including all three 3-pointers. Nine of her career-high 11 points came in the first half. In addition, she set career highs for field goals made, 3-pointers made, rebounds (6) and minutes (40).
• Coming off a career-high 21 rebounds Sunday against Rutgers, Taiye Bello pulled down 14 boards Wednesday. Eight came on the offensive end, and she also scored six points and blocked three shots.
• Minnesota opened the game on a 14-4 run and led 16-8 after the first quarter. The lead was nine for Minnesota early in the second quarter, but Indiana closed the gap with an 8-0 run to make it 21-20 with just over five minutes remaining in the half. The Gophers scored the final six points, though, to lead 27-20 at halftime.
• Leading by eight after the third quarter, Minnesota was up 61-49 with 4:15 left in the game, but Indiana responded with 10 straight points to make it a 61-59 game with just 29 seconds to go. Missed shots by the Hoosiers down the stretch and made free throws by the Gophers, however, kept the game in Minnesota's favor.
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. 7, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 10,841 minutes, while no other team in the league had fewer than 11,000 combined minutes. For further context, Sunday's opponent, Northwestern, was seventh in the Big Ten with 12,776 combined minutes.
• Not only is the team playing under a new coaching staff, all five members of the starting lineup are 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 five starts of her career this year. All four have seen double-digit jumps in their minutes per game this season.Lamke leads the team with an increase of 19.6 minutes per game from last year, while Brunson (+19.2), Bello (+13.9) and Garrido Perez (+12.1) follow her.
• Through Feb. 7, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 10,841 minutes, while no other team in the league had fewer than 11,000 combined minutes. For further context, Sunday's opponent, Northwestern, was seventh in the Big Ten with 12,776 combined minutes.
• Not only is the team playing under a new coaching staff, all five members of the starting lineup are 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 five starts of her career this year. All four have seen double-digit jumps in their minutes per game this season.Lamke leads the team with an increase of 19.6 minutes per game from last year, while Brunson (+19.2), Bello (+13.9) and Garrido Perez (+12.1) follow her.
BELLO DOMINATING THE GLASS
• Through Wednesday, Taiye Bello was third in the country and leading the Big Ten in total rebounds (298), rebounds per game (13.0) and offensive rebounds per game (5). She was also 19th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (8) and 36th 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 13.0 this year. The +6.7 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 5.5 per game (+4.8). Aside from Bello and Lamke, no other player in the B1G has improved their average by more than +3.6.
• 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 13.0 this year. The +6.7 difference has her tops in the B1G, ahead of teammate Annalese Lamke who has gone from 0.7 to 5.5 per game (+4.8). Aside from Bello and Lamke, no other player in the B1G has improved their average by more than +3.6.
• 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 (18.7), assists per game (4.1) and steals per game (2.0).
• Nationally, Bell is the best at getting to the free throw line, leading the country in attempts (196) and ranking third in makes (133).
• She leads the Big Ten in free throws attempted, free throws made, field goals attempted (368) and steals (47), ranks second in field goals made (143) 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 the best at getting to the free throw line, leading the country in attempts (196) and ranking third in makes (133).
• She leads the Big Ten in free throws attempted, free throws made, field goals attempted (368) and steals (47), ranks second in field goals made (143) 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.
BRUNSON MAKING 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 ever since.
• Through the first 20 games of the year, Brunson was averaging 7.2 points while shooting 36.2 percent from the floor. In three games since returning to the starting lineup, she's averaging 11.3 points while shooting 43.3 percent on field goals, 33.3 percent on 3's and 66.7 percent at the line.
• On the year, Brunson is averaging 7.7 points per game after averaging 2.9 last season. That +4.8 increase is fourth best in the B1G behind teammate Annalese Lamke (+8.5), Purdue's Karissa McLaughlin (+5.3) and Ohio State's Makayla Waterman (+5.0).
• Through the first 20 games of the year, Brunson was averaging 7.2 points while shooting 36.2 percent from the floor. In three games since returning to the starting lineup, she's averaging 11.3 points while shooting 43.3 percent on field goals, 33.3 percent on 3's and 66.7 percent at the line.
• On the year, Brunson is averaging 7.7 points per game after averaging 2.9 last season. That +4.8 increase is fourth best in the B1G behind teammate Annalese Lamke (+8.5), Purdue's Karissa McLaughlin (+5.3) and Ohio State's Makayla Waterman (+5.0).
LAMKE MAKING THE MOST OF HER SENIOR YEAR
• Annalese Lamke is making the most of her senior season. She has more recorded more points, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, rebounds and minutes this season alone than in her first three seasons combined.
• Excluding transfers and freshmen, no player in the Big Ten has seen her scoring average increase has much from last year to this as Lamke. Her +8.5 improvement from 1.1 points per game last year to 9.6 this year is 3.2 points better than Purdue's Karissa McLaughlin, who is at +5.3 from last year.
• Lamke is also currently the second-most improved rebounder in the conference, jumping from 0.7 per game last year to 5.5 this year, for a difference of +4.8.
• Lamke exploded for a career-high 21 points in the Gophers' season-opening win over New Hampshire. She scored 17 points alone in the second half and recorded an efficient 9-of-12 shooting.
• Against No. 12 Syracuse on Nov. 29, she had a career-high 13 rebounds and nine rebounds. Lamke also had a 20-point outing against Wisconsin on Dec. 28 and scored 18 points (all in the first half) against Illinois on Jan. 6.
• Playing in her home state, she nearly had the first double-double of her career at Wisconsin on Jan. 17, posting 14 points and nine rebounds.
MINNESOTA NEAR THE TOP IN ATTENDANCE
• Excluding transfers and freshmen, no player in the Big Ten has seen her scoring average increase has much from last year to this as Lamke. Her +8.5 improvement from 1.1 points per game last year to 9.6 this year is 3.2 points better than Purdue's Karissa McLaughlin, who is at +5.3 from last year.
• Lamke is also currently the second-most improved rebounder in the conference, jumping from 0.7 per game last year to 5.5 this year, for a difference of +4.8.
• Lamke exploded for a career-high 21 points in the Gophers' season-opening win over New Hampshire. She scored 17 points alone in the second half and recorded an efficient 9-of-12 shooting.
• Against No. 12 Syracuse on Nov. 29, she had a career-high 13 rebounds and nine rebounds. Lamke also had a 20-point outing against Wisconsin on Dec. 28 and scored 18 points (all in the first half) against Illinois on Jan. 6.
• Playing in her home state, she nearly had the first double-double of her career at Wisconsin on Jan. 17, posting 14 points and nine rebounds.
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).
• 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 No. 2 UConn at No. 3 Louisville.
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