University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, January 22
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Wisconsin
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Aim to Continue Streak Over Badgers Wednesday
1/21/2020 12:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- In the first of two games between the teams this season, Minnesota (12-6, 2-5 B1G) hosts Wisconsin (9-9, 1-6) Wednesday night. The game, which starts at 7 p.m., can be streamed on BTNPlus.com and heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 KFAN Plus.
After Wednesday's meeting in Minneapolis, the teams will face off for a second time in Madison on Feb. 6.
PROMOTIONS
FACING WISCONSIN
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE BADGERS
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• Converting turnovers into points has been a trend for the Gophers all season.The Gophers have turned 317 takeaways into 367 points this year, an average of 1.16 points for every turnover forced.
After Wednesday's meeting in Minneapolis, the teams will face off for a second time in Madison on Feb. 6.
PROMOTIONS
• Border Battle - Gold Pom Poms to the first 5,000 fans
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Minnesota is 7-4 this season in home games, outscoring teams by an average of 76-63. The seven wins came consecutively from Nov. 10 to Dec. 21, one victory away from cracking the top 10 for longest home win streaks in program history. Gadiva Hubbard is averaging 12.2 points at home, while Taiye Bello nearly has a double-double with 11.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest.
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank 21st in the country in free throw percentage at 76.3 percent, making 232 of 304 attempts. That figure is on pace to be percentage points better than the school record of .763 (431-565) set in 2009-10. Of the 20 teams ahead of the Gophers, only seven have made more or attempted more free throws. The next closest B1G team to Minnesota in percentage is Iowa at 73.8 percent.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted eight double-doubles this year, including a stretch of four straight at one point. She also has had four other games this year where she was either one point or one rebound away from a double-double. Her eight double-doubles are tied for the most in the Big Ten and are 21st nationally. In her career, Bello has 23 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 20-3 in those games. Though her season averages have dipped slightly below that of a double-double, through Sunday's games, she is still one of just 29 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, with averages of 12.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this year.
• The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Sara Scalia notched the first double-double of her young career with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds Thursday against Iowa. She's the first Gopher to have a double-double this year other than Taiye Bello, who has eight. After scoring 22 points (5-7 on 3-pointers) and grabbing seven rebounds in her Big Ten debut at Penn State on Dec. 28, Scalia averaged 6.7 points (4-11 on 3's) and 5.7 rebounds over her next three conference games. She's gotten back on the right track, though, averaging 17.3 points (10-23 on 3-pointers) and 6.7 rebounds in her last three outings.
• Like Scalia, Minnesota's offense as a whole hit a mini-slump early in the Big Ten season but it seems to have since righted the ship. After scoring 81 points on 50.0 percent shooting from the floor and 55.6 percent on 3-pointers at Penn State in the conference opener, Minnesota shot 34.8 percent on field goals and 33.3 percent on 3-pointers while averaging 58.3 points over its next three games. However, in the last three contests, the Gophers have averaged 72.7 points per contest while shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from long range.
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank 21st in the country in free throw percentage at 76.3 percent, making 232 of 304 attempts. That figure is on pace to be percentage points better than the school record of .763 (431-565) set in 2009-10. Of the 20 teams ahead of the Gophers, only seven have made more or attempted more free throws. The next closest B1G team to Minnesota in percentage is Iowa at 73.8 percent.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted eight double-doubles this year, including a stretch of four straight at one point. She also has had four other games this year where she was either one point or one rebound away from a double-double. Her eight double-doubles are tied for the most in the Big Ten and are 21st nationally. In her career, Bello has 23 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 20-3 in those games. Though her season averages have dipped slightly below that of a double-double, through Sunday's games, she is still one of just 29 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, with averages of 12.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this year.
• The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Sara Scalia notched the first double-double of her young career with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds Thursday against Iowa. She's the first Gopher to have a double-double this year other than Taiye Bello, who has eight. After scoring 22 points (5-7 on 3-pointers) and grabbing seven rebounds in her Big Ten debut at Penn State on Dec. 28, Scalia averaged 6.7 points (4-11 on 3's) and 5.7 rebounds over her next three conference games. She's gotten back on the right track, though, averaging 17.3 points (10-23 on 3-pointers) and 6.7 rebounds in her last three outings.
• Like Scalia, Minnesota's offense as a whole hit a mini-slump early in the Big Ten season but it seems to have since righted the ship. After scoring 81 points on 50.0 percent shooting from the floor and 55.6 percent on 3-pointers at Penn State in the conference opener, Minnesota shot 34.8 percent on field goals and 33.3 percent on 3-pointers while averaging 58.3 points over its next three games. However, in the last three contests, the Gophers have averaged 72.7 points per contest while shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from long range.
FACING WISCONSIN
• Minnesota and Wisconsin meet for the 78th time on Thursday. The only other team the Golden Gophers have faced more is Iowa (79).
• The Gophers have won the last 13 matchups against the Badgers. That 13-game win streak is the longest for either team in the series and the longest active streak for Minnesota against another team ahead of Northern Iowa (11), Penn State (5) and Santa Clara (5).
• In fact, the Gophers' 13-game streak against the Badgers is their second longest ever against one team. Only a 16-0 stretch against Northwestern from Feb. 2000 to Jan. 2009 is longer. Wisconsin's last win in the series was a 78-72 win in Minneapolis on Jan. 26, 2012.
• Minnesota is 21-13 all-time at home against Wisconsin, its most against one program at home. The Gophers have won five straight against Wisconsin at Williams Arena, tied for the second longest active home win streak against one team (Northern Iowa, 6). Minnesota's five wins have come by an average score of 80-62.
• For the first time since the 2014-15 season, Minnesota has no Wisconsinites on its roster. Conversely, Wisconsin has three Minnesotans on its roster: Carmen Backes from Lindstrom (Chisago Lakes HS), Courtney Fredrickson from Minnetonka (Minnetonka HS), Suzanne Gilreath from Brooklyn Park (Fridley HS) and Sara Stapleton from Blaine (Centennial HS).
• Wisconsin enters the game 9-9 on the season and 1-6 in Big Ten play. The Badgers started the year with wins in five of its first six games, but have gone 4-8 since.
• Imani Lewis leads Wisconsin in scoring and rebounding with 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Her eight double-doubles this year are tied with Minnesota's Taiye Bello for the most in the Big Ten.
• Abby Laszewski is the only other Badger averaging double figures, and she is second to Lewis in both points (11.1) and rebounds (6.7) per contest.
• The Gophers have won the last 13 matchups against the Badgers. That 13-game win streak is the longest for either team in the series and the longest active streak for Minnesota against another team ahead of Northern Iowa (11), Penn State (5) and Santa Clara (5).
• In fact, the Gophers' 13-game streak against the Badgers is their second longest ever against one team. Only a 16-0 stretch against Northwestern from Feb. 2000 to Jan. 2009 is longer. Wisconsin's last win in the series was a 78-72 win in Minneapolis on Jan. 26, 2012.
• Minnesota is 21-13 all-time at home against Wisconsin, its most against one program at home. The Gophers have won five straight against Wisconsin at Williams Arena, tied for the second longest active home win streak against one team (Northern Iowa, 6). Minnesota's five wins have come by an average score of 80-62.
• For the first time since the 2014-15 season, Minnesota has no Wisconsinites on its roster. Conversely, Wisconsin has three Minnesotans on its roster: Carmen Backes from Lindstrom (Chisago Lakes HS), Courtney Fredrickson from Minnetonka (Minnetonka HS), Suzanne Gilreath from Brooklyn Park (Fridley HS) and Sara Stapleton from Blaine (Centennial HS).
• Wisconsin enters the game 9-9 on the season and 1-6 in Big Ten play. The Badgers started the year with wins in five of its first six games, but have gone 4-8 since.
• Imani Lewis leads Wisconsin in scoring and rebounding with 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Her eight double-doubles this year are tied with Minnesota's Taiye Bello for the most in the Big Ten.
• Abby Laszewski is the only other Badger averaging double figures, and she is second to Lewis in both points (11.1) and rebounds (6.7) per contest.
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE BADGERS
• Minnesota took both games from Wisconsin a year ago, winning 74-56 in Minneapolis on Dec. 28 and 78-50 in Madison on Jan. 17.
• A dominant first quarter where Minnesota outscored Wisconsin, 17-7, set the tone in the first meeting between the teams at Williams Arena. The Gophers held the Badgers to 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) shooting and outscored them 11-2 over the game's first eight minutes.
• Annalese Lamke led all scorers with 20 points, while Kenisha Bell notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Destiny Pitts was the third Gopher to reach double figures, contributing 13 points. Taiye Bello came one point short of a double-double, tallying nine points and 16 rebounds.
• Like the first quarter, the third quarter was where Minnesota separated from Wisconsin. Ahead 40-30, the Gophers closed the third quarter on a 15-4 run over the final 6:10.
• When the teams met less than a month later in Madison, Bell posted yet another double-double with 25 points and 10 assists. Two others almost had double-doubles, as well, as Lamke had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Bello contributed 14 points and nine boards.
• The Gophers never trailed in the game, scoring the first five points of the contest and opening the game on an 11-2 run. They led 17-10 after the first quarter and then outscored the Badgers 18-7 in the second quarter to lead 35-17 at the half.
• The Minnesota defense forced 16 Wisconsin turnovers in the game, including six in the first quarter alone and 10 in the first half.
• Wisconsin never got closer than 16 points in the second half, while the Gophers' biggest lead came on a 3-pointer by Mercedes Staples that put them up 74-41 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
RECAPPING THE WIN AT PURDUE
• A dominant first quarter where Minnesota outscored Wisconsin, 17-7, set the tone in the first meeting between the teams at Williams Arena. The Gophers held the Badgers to 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) shooting and outscored them 11-2 over the game's first eight minutes.
• Annalese Lamke led all scorers with 20 points, while Kenisha Bell notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Destiny Pitts was the third Gopher to reach double figures, contributing 13 points. Taiye Bello came one point short of a double-double, tallying nine points and 16 rebounds.
• Like the first quarter, the third quarter was where Minnesota separated from Wisconsin. Ahead 40-30, the Gophers closed the third quarter on a 15-4 run over the final 6:10.
• When the teams met less than a month later in Madison, Bell posted yet another double-double with 25 points and 10 assists. Two others almost had double-doubles, as well, as Lamke had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Bello contributed 14 points and nine boards.
• The Gophers never trailed in the game, scoring the first five points of the contest and opening the game on an 11-2 run. They led 17-10 after the first quarter and then outscored the Badgers 18-7 in the second quarter to lead 35-17 at the half.
• The Minnesota defense forced 16 Wisconsin turnovers in the game, including six in the first quarter alone and 10 in the first half.
• Wisconsin never got closer than 16 points in the second half, while the Gophers' biggest lead came on a 3-pointer by Mercedes Staples that put them up 74-41 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
RECAPPING THE WIN AT PURDUE
• Minnesota used a huge second-half spurt to knock off Purdue Sunday, 72-59, ending a five-game losing skid.
• Tied at 43-43 with 3:52 left in the third quarter, the Golden Gophers embarked on a 19-0 run over the next 5:49 to record its third straight win at Mackey Arena, a first in program history. Jasmine Powell and Sara Scalia each scored six points during the stretch, while Gadiva Hubbard added five.
• During Minnesota's 19-0 run, Purdue was 0-for-8 from the floor and turned the ball over four times.
• Five Gophers scored in double figures with Scalia leading the way with 18 points for the second straight game.
• Tied at 43-43 with 3:52 left in the third quarter, the Golden Gophers embarked on a 19-0 run over the next 5:49 to record its third straight win at Mackey Arena, a first in program history. Jasmine Powell and Sara Scalia each scored six points during the stretch, while Gadiva Hubbard added five.
• During Minnesota's 19-0 run, Purdue was 0-for-8 from the floor and turned the ball over four times.
• Five Gophers scored in double figures with Scalia leading the way with 18 points for the second straight game.
• Hubbard was right behind her with 17, her fifth straight game in double figures and her team-leading 13th such game of the year.
• Jasmine Brunson kept up her stellar play with 13 points, her third straight game with at least that many points. Brunson had five steals to set a career high and lead a defensive effort that forced Purdue into 20 turnovers, the most for the Gophers in a B1G game this year.
• Taiye Bello notched her team-leading eight double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also tied a career high with three assists and registered a block to tie Jessie Edwards (113) for seventh in program history.
• Powell was the fifth Gopher to reach double figures as she had 10 points, four rebounds and three steals.
• Jasmine Brunson kept up her stellar play with 13 points, her third straight game with at least that many points. Brunson had five steals to set a career high and lead a defensive effort that forced Purdue into 20 turnovers, the most for the Gophers in a B1G game this year.
• Taiye Bello notched her team-leading eight double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also tied a career high with three assists and registered a block to tie Jessie Edwards (113) for seventh in program history.
• Powell was the fifth Gopher to reach double figures as she had 10 points, four rebounds and three steals.
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
• Through 18 games, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring and production in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen.
• The Gophers are averaging 74.6 points per game this year, 3.6 points better than the 71.0 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 90 points better than last year even though they have 117 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .390 mark on 3-pointers lead the Big Ten and rank eighth nationally, but it is also on pace to be the third best in school history behind the record of .399 set in 1988-89 and .393 in 2013-14.
• Minnesota is also 84 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 22nd nationally by shooting .763 percent from the line. Six Gophers have attempted at least 20 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 71 percent. Last year at this stage, of the six players with at least 15 attempts, only two were shooting above 70 percent from the line.
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
• The Gophers are averaging 74.6 points per game this year, 3.6 points better than the 71.0 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 90 points better than last year even though they have 117 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .390 mark on 3-pointers lead the Big Ten and rank eighth nationally, but it is also on pace to be the third best in school history behind the record of .399 set in 1988-89 and .393 in 2013-14.
• Minnesota is also 84 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 22nd nationally by shooting .763 percent from the line. Six Gophers have attempted at least 20 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 71 percent. Last year at this stage, of the six players with at least 15 attempts, only two were shooting above 70 percent from the line.
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
• Minnesota has six freshmen on its 2019-20 roster and some are already making significant contributions.
• Sara Scalia, who has started every contest this year except for the season opener, is second on the team in field goal percentage (.457), 3-point percentage (.434), steals (28) and minutes per game (31.3), third in free throw percentage (.840) and rebounding average (4.7), and fourth in scoring (11.5).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 43.4 stands as the best ever by a Gopher freshman (min. 40 attempts) and is currently the fifth best in one season at Minnesota (min. 50 attempts).
• Within the Big Ten, Scalia leads all freshmen in 3-point percentage and 3's made per game (2.0), is second in scoring average, minutes and steals per game (1.6), seventh in rebounding average and 10th in assists (1.5).
• Against Bryant on Nov. 26, she scored 20 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds en route to being named B1G Freshman of the Week. She followed that at George Washington on Dec. 10 when she set or tied multiple career highs, including points (23), rebounds (7), steals (4) and blocks (2).
• She scored 22 points in her Big Ten debut at Penn State on Dec. 28, tying a career high with five 3-pointers made. Against Iowa on Jan. 16, she had her first career double-double with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds then followed with 18 points at Purdue to earn her second B1G Freshman of the Week honor.
• Jasmine Powell, who has come off the bench in all 18 games, leads the team in free throw attempts (61) and is second in free throws made (45) and assists (54).
• Within the B1G, Powell leads all freshmen in free throw percentage (.738), is second in assists per game (3.0), third in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), fifth in steals per game (1.4) and eighth in scoring average (8.8).
• Powell put up 19 points against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since Nov. of 2017, and has scored in double figures in seven games this year.
• With Scalia averaging 11.5 points per game and Powell at 8.8, the Gophers' duo is showing the makings of one of the top freshman scoring combinations in recent program history. Only two other times in In the last 25 years have the Gophers had more than one freshman average at least 8.0 points: 2006-07 with Ashley Ellis-Milan (9.1) and Brittany McCoy (8.9), and 2000-01 with current head coach Lindsay Whalen (17.0) and Tanisha Gilbert (14.7).
• Additionally, the four freshmen that have played this year, including Klarke Sconiers (3.8 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (1.6), have combined for 25.6 points per game, the highest figure among Gopher freshmen in the last 13 years and third largest in the last 25 years.
• Sara Scalia, who has started every contest this year except for the season opener, is second on the team in field goal percentage (.457), 3-point percentage (.434), steals (28) and minutes per game (31.3), third in free throw percentage (.840) and rebounding average (4.7), and fourth in scoring (11.5).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 43.4 stands as the best ever by a Gopher freshman (min. 40 attempts) and is currently the fifth best in one season at Minnesota (min. 50 attempts).
• Within the Big Ten, Scalia leads all freshmen in 3-point percentage and 3's made per game (2.0), is second in scoring average, minutes and steals per game (1.6), seventh in rebounding average and 10th in assists (1.5).
• Against Bryant on Nov. 26, she scored 20 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds en route to being named B1G Freshman of the Week. She followed that at George Washington on Dec. 10 when she set or tied multiple career highs, including points (23), rebounds (7), steals (4) and blocks (2).
• She scored 22 points in her Big Ten debut at Penn State on Dec. 28, tying a career high with five 3-pointers made. Against Iowa on Jan. 16, she had her first career double-double with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds then followed with 18 points at Purdue to earn her second B1G Freshman of the Week honor.
• Jasmine Powell, who has come off the bench in all 18 games, leads the team in free throw attempts (61) and is second in free throws made (45) and assists (54).
• Within the B1G, Powell leads all freshmen in free throw percentage (.738), is second in assists per game (3.0), third in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5), fifth in steals per game (1.4) and eighth in scoring average (8.8).
• Powell put up 19 points against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since Nov. of 2017, and has scored in double figures in seven games this year.
• With Scalia averaging 11.5 points per game and Powell at 8.8, the Gophers' duo is showing the makings of one of the top freshman scoring combinations in recent program history. Only two other times in In the last 25 years have the Gophers had more than one freshman average at least 8.0 points: 2006-07 with Ashley Ellis-Milan (9.1) and Brittany McCoy (8.9), and 2000-01 with current head coach Lindsay Whalen (17.0) and Tanisha Gilbert (14.7).
• Additionally, the four freshmen that have played this year, including Klarke Sconiers (3.8 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (1.6), have combined for 25.6 points per game, the highest figure among Gopher freshmen in the last 13 years and third largest in the last 25 years.
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• Minnesota is winning the turnover battle so far, forcing 317 turnovers while giving the ball away just 237 times through 18 games.
• Not only do the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten and 32nd nationally with just 13.2 turnovers committed per game, they are also third in the B1G in turnover margin (+4.44; 35th nationally), fourth in turnovers forced per game (17.61) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.08; 48th nationally).
• In terms of taking care of the ball, against Vermont on Nov. 10 the Gophers only committed five turnovers, which tied for the third fewest in program history. The Gophers have had four games this year with 10 or fewer turnovers and only five contests where it has turned the ball over more than 15 times.
• Six times this year Minnesota has forced opponents into at least 20 turnovers. 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.
• Not only do the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten and 32nd nationally with just 13.2 turnovers committed per game, they are also third in the B1G in turnover margin (+4.44; 35th nationally), fourth in turnovers forced per game (17.61) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.08; 48th nationally).
• In terms of taking care of the ball, against Vermont on Nov. 10 the Gophers only committed five turnovers, which tied for the third fewest in program history. The Gophers have had four games this year with 10 or fewer turnovers and only five contests where it has turned the ball over more than 15 times.
• Six times this year Minnesota has forced opponents into at least 20 turnovers. 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.The Gophers have turned 317 takeaways into 367 points this year, an average of 1.16 points for every turnover forced.
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