University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, January 30
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Nebraska
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Big Ten Homestand Starts with Nebraska Thursday
1/28/2020 4:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- In the second of two games between the teams this season, Minnesota (12-8, 2-7 B1G) plays host to Nebraska (15-5, 5-4) Thursday night. The game, which starts at 7 p.m., can be streamed on BTN Plus and heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 KFAN Plus.
PROMOTIONS
FACING NEBRASKA
EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST THE CORNHUSKERS
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• Converting turnovers into points has been a trend for the Gophers all season. There have been only four games this year where they have failed to earn at least one point for every turnover forced. The Gophers have turned 339 takeaways into 391 points this year, an average of 1.15 points for every turnover forced.
PROMOTIONS
• Student Night - Free long sleeve shirts to the first 500 students, plus free pizza and prize giveaways (32" TV, AirPods, Fitbit Watch, YETI Backpack Cooler)
• Halftime - U Can Danz!
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• 2019 Gopher Volleyball Final Four Celebration - Take your photo with the 2019 NCAA Volleyball Final Four trophyThe #Gophers are back at Williams Arena on Thursday for Student Night!
— Minnesota Women's Basketball (@GopherWBB) January 25, 2020
In addition to free admission as always, the first 500 @UMNews students get these awesome long-sleeve shirts and free pizza.
Not to mention we're giving away some great prizes, so be there! pic.twitter.com/i0MmECoKzp
• Halftime - U Can Danz!
• Minnesota is 7-5 this season in home games, outscoring teams by an average of 75-64. After dropping the season opener at home, the Gophers won seven straight at Williams Arena but have since lost the last four at The Barn. Gadiva Hubbard is the team's top scorer at home this year at 12.2 points per game, while Taiye Bello is not far behind her at 11.3 points and a team-best 9.7 rebounds per home contest. The team is averaging just 12.8 turnovers per game at home, while forcing 18.3 from the opposition.
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank 32nd in the country in free throw percentage at 75.3 percent, making 244 of 324 attempts. That figure is on pace to be the fifth best in school history and the best since the 2015-16 campaign. The next closest Big Ten team to Minnesota in percentage is Iowa at 74.6 percent.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted nine double-doubles this year, including a stretch of four straight at one point. She also has had five other games this year where she was either one point or one rebound away from a double-double. Her nine double-doubles are tied for the Big Ten lead and are 24th nationally. In her career, Bello has 24 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 20-4 in those games. Though her season averages have dipped slightly below that of a double-double, through Monday's games, she is still one of just 22 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, with averages of 12.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this year.
• A two-time 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 on Jan. 16 against Iowa. She's the only Gopher to have a double-double this year other than Taiye Bello, who has nine. 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) over her next three conference games. She's gotten back on the right track, though, averaging a team-high 14.2 points in her last five games.
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank 32nd in the country in free throw percentage at 75.3 percent, making 244 of 324 attempts. That figure is on pace to be the fifth best in school history and the best since the 2015-16 campaign. The next closest Big Ten team to Minnesota in percentage is Iowa at 74.6 percent.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted nine double-doubles this year, including a stretch of four straight at one point. She also has had five other games this year where she was either one point or one rebound away from a double-double. Her nine double-doubles are tied for the Big Ten lead and are 24th nationally. In her career, Bello has 24 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 20-4 in those games. Though her season averages have dipped slightly below that of a double-double, through Monday's games, she is still one of just 22 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, with averages of 12.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this year.
• A two-time 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 on Jan. 16 against Iowa. She's the only Gopher to have a double-double this year other than Taiye Bello, who has nine. 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) over her next three conference games. She's gotten back on the right track, though, averaging a team-high 14.2 points in her last five games.
FACING NEBRASKA
• Minnesota and Nebraska meet for the 24th time on Thursday. The Huskers hold a 14-9 edge in the series.
• Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten prior to the 2011-12 season, it has a 9-4 lead over Minnesota.
• In Minneapolis, the Gophers have won six of the eight meetings between the schools, including two of the last three matchups. Among teams its played at least eight times at home, the Gophers' .750 win percentage against the Huskers trails only the .778 mark they have against Iowa State for the highest against one team.
• Nebraska has two Minnesotans on its roster: sophomores Sam Haiby from Moorhead (Moorhead HS) and Kayla Mershon from Chanhassen (Minnetonka HS).
• The Cornhuskers are 15-5 on the season and 5-4 in the Big Ten. They opened the season winning their first five games, then won six straight following their first loss of the year to Creighton on Nov. 24. Nebraska won three of its four games in league play, including a win over Minnesota on Jan. 4, but has since gone 2-3.
• Nebraska has two players averaging double figures with Leigha Brown leading the way at 13.7 points per game, while Haiby is right behind her at 11.3. Kate Cain is averaging a team-best 7.2 rebounds per contest. Cain is also second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with 2.80 blocks per contest.
• As a team, the Huskers lead the conference and rank 14th in the country with 5.3 blocks per game. Within B1G play, Nebraska has the top 3-point percentage at .394.
• Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten prior to the 2011-12 season, it has a 9-4 lead over Minnesota.
• In Minneapolis, the Gophers have won six of the eight meetings between the schools, including two of the last three matchups. Among teams its played at least eight times at home, the Gophers' .750 win percentage against the Huskers trails only the .778 mark they have against Iowa State for the highest against one team.
• Nebraska has two Minnesotans on its roster: sophomores Sam Haiby from Moorhead (Moorhead HS) and Kayla Mershon from Chanhassen (Minnetonka HS).
• The Cornhuskers are 15-5 on the season and 5-4 in the Big Ten. They opened the season winning their first five games, then won six straight following their first loss of the year to Creighton on Nov. 24. Nebraska won three of its four games in league play, including a win over Minnesota on Jan. 4, but has since gone 2-3.
• Nebraska has two players averaging double figures with Leigha Brown leading the way at 13.7 points per game, while Haiby is right behind her at 11.3. Kate Cain is averaging a team-best 7.2 rebounds per contest. Cain is also second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally with 2.80 blocks per contest.
• As a team, the Huskers lead the conference and rank 14th in the country with 5.3 blocks per game. Within B1G play, Nebraska has the top 3-point percentage at .394.
EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST THE CORNHUSKERS
• After starting the year 4-0 away from home, Minnesota was dealt its first road loss of the season in a 72-58 setback at Nebraska on Jan. 4.
• Three Gophers reached double figures with Taiye Bello leading the way with 16 points. Twelve of her 16 came in the third quarter, tying for the most in any quarter this season by a Gopher. She also had five rebounds (four offensive), two blocks and two steals.
• Destiny Pitts was second on the team with 12 points. She added a game-high four assists and three rebounds. Gadiva Hubbard had her best scoring game of the young conference season with 10 points.
• A Pitts jumper made it 13-12 early in the second, but Nebraska responded with the next 10 points to go up 23-12. That was met with a 12-4 run by Minnesota that got it back within 27-24 with just under three minutes left in the opening half. Nebraska had one more run before the teams hit the locker room, though, as it scored eight of the last 10 points to lead 35-26 at the break.
• Bello scored on back-to-back baskets to open the third quarter to cut the lead to five, but the Gophers would not get any closer the rest of the way as a 10-0 spurt from the Huskers gave them their largest lead of the game at 45-30 midway through the third.
• Three Gophers reached double figures with Taiye Bello leading the way with 16 points. Twelve of her 16 came in the third quarter, tying for the most in any quarter this season by a Gopher. She also had five rebounds (four offensive), two blocks and two steals.
• Destiny Pitts was second on the team with 12 points. She added a game-high four assists and three rebounds. Gadiva Hubbard had her best scoring game of the young conference season with 10 points.
• A Pitts jumper made it 13-12 early in the second, but Nebraska responded with the next 10 points to go up 23-12. That was met with a 12-4 run by Minnesota that got it back within 27-24 with just under three minutes left in the opening half. Nebraska had one more run before the teams hit the locker room, though, as it scored eight of the last 10 points to lead 35-26 at the break.
• Bello scored on back-to-back baskets to open the third quarter to cut the lead to five, but the Gophers would not get any closer the rest of the way as a 10-0 spurt from the Huskers gave them their largest lead of the game at 45-30 midway through the third.
LAST TIME VS. NEBRASKA IN MINNEAPOLIS
• Despite 30 points from Kenisha Bell, Minnesota fell 79-74 to Nebraska when the teams last met in Minneapolis on Dec. 31, 2017.
• Gadiva Hubbard also had a strong game, scoring 15 points to go with eight assists, while Destiny Pitts and Carlie Wagner each had 11 points.
• Minnesota led by five after the first quarter, by three at halftime and by two through the third quarter.
• The Gophers maintained the lead until the Huskers tied the game at 64 with six minutes left. Bell knotted it back up shortly after but Nebraska scored five straight points to go up 71-66.
• After forcing a Nebraska shot clock violation with two minutes left, Wagner hit a jumper to cut the deficit to one. Bell then came through with a huge steal and basket to give the Gophers a 74-73 lead with 38 seconds left. Nebraska was able to score, however, and forced two missed 3's down the stretch to seal the win.
RECAPPING THE GAME AT INDIANA
• Gadiva Hubbard also had a strong game, scoring 15 points to go with eight assists, while Destiny Pitts and Carlie Wagner each had 11 points.
• Minnesota led by five after the first quarter, by three at halftime and by two through the third quarter.
• The Gophers maintained the lead until the Huskers tied the game at 64 with six minutes left. Bell knotted it back up shortly after but Nebraska scored five straight points to go up 71-66.
• After forcing a Nebraska shot clock violation with two minutes left, Wagner hit a jumper to cut the deficit to one. Bell then came through with a huge steal and basket to give the Gophers a 74-73 lead with 38 seconds left. Nebraska was able to score, however, and forced two missed 3's down the stretch to seal the win.
RECAPPING THE GAME AT INDIANA
• Minnesota lost on the road to No. 20/24 Indiana Monday night, 65-52.
• Three Gophers reached double figures with Jasmine Powell leading the way with 15 points. Making her first career start, Powell matched the 15 she had at Illinois on Jan. 12 for her most in a Big Ten game this year. She added a team-high three assists.
• Taiye Bello recorded her ninth double-double of the season and the 24th of her career as she finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds. It was her third straight game with at least 10 rebounds and her second double-double in the past three contests.
• Jasmine Brunson matched Bello with 11 points for her fifth straight game in double figures. Prior to this stretch, Brunson had never had more than three games in a row with at least 10 points in her career.
• Minnesota led 14-11 after the first quarter, but Indiana opened up the second stanza on a 12-2 run. Down 25-17 later in the quarter, Sara Scalia and Powell knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Hoosiers' lead to just two points, though Indiana did hold a 27-23 lead at intermission.
• In the third quarter, Minnesota got within one at 35-34 after a basket from Bello with 6:15 to go in the frame. However, Indiana countered with a 7-0 run to regain control and led 48-39 heading into the fourth.
• Minnesota would get as close as seven points in the fourth quarter after a pair of Powell free throws made it a 51-44 contest with just over six minutes remaining. The Hoosiers were strong from the free throw line though, making 15-of-18 in the fourth quarter and 20-of-24 for the game.
• Three Gophers reached double figures with Jasmine Powell leading the way with 15 points. Making her first career start, Powell matched the 15 she had at Illinois on Jan. 12 for her most in a Big Ten game this year. She added a team-high three assists.
• Taiye Bello recorded her ninth double-double of the season and the 24th of her career as she finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds. It was her third straight game with at least 10 rebounds and her second double-double in the past three contests.
• Jasmine Brunson matched Bello with 11 points for her fifth straight game in double figures. Prior to this stretch, Brunson had never had more than three games in a row with at least 10 points in her career.
• Minnesota led 14-11 after the first quarter, but Indiana opened up the second stanza on a 12-2 run. Down 25-17 later in the quarter, Sara Scalia and Powell knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Hoosiers' lead to just two points, though Indiana did hold a 27-23 lead at intermission.
• In the third quarter, Minnesota got within one at 35-34 after a basket from Bello with 6:15 to go in the frame. However, Indiana countered with a 7-0 run to regain control and led 48-39 heading into the fourth.
• Minnesota would get as close as seven points in the fourth quarter after a pair of Powell free throws made it a 51-44 contest with just over six minutes remaining. The Hoosiers were strong from the free throw line though, making 15-of-18 in the fourth quarter and 20-of-24 for the game.
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
• Through 20 games, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring and offensive production in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen.
• The Gophers are averaging 72.9 points per game this year, over 3.5 points better than the 69.3 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 72 points better than last year even though they have 119 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .378 mark on 3-pointers lead the Big Ten and rank 13th nationally, but it is also on pace to be the fourth best in school history and the highest since 2013-14.
• Minnesota is also 76 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 32nd nationally by shooting .753 percent from the line. Six Gophers have attempted at least 25 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 68 percent. Last year at this stage, of the six players with at least 20 attempts, only two were shooting above 69 percent from the line.
• The Gophers are averaging 72.9 points per game this year, over 3.5 points better than the 69.3 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 72 points better than last year even though they have 119 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .378 mark on 3-pointers lead the Big Ten and rank 13th nationally, but it is also on pace to be the fourth best in school history and the highest since 2013-14.
• Minnesota is also 76 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 32nd nationally by shooting .753 percent from the line. Six Gophers have attempted at least 25 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 68 percent. Last year at this stage, of the six players with at least 20 attempts, only two were shooting above 69 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 (.437; min. 25 attempts), 3-point percentage (.398; min. 25 attempts), steals (31) and minutes per game (32.0), third in free throw percentage (.852) and rebounding average (4.7), and fourth in scoring (11.3).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 39.8 stands as the third best ever by a Gopher freshman (min. 40 attempts) behind only Rachel Banham (42.5 in 2011-12) and Shayne Mullaney (40.5 in 2012-13).
• Among Big Ten freshman, she has the most 3-pointers made per game (1.9), is second in scoring average, minutes and steals per game (1.6), sixth in rebounding average and 11th 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 made her first career start Monday at Indiana, leads the team in free throws made (48) and attempted (68), is second in assists (58) and third in steals (28).
• Within the B1G, Powell is third among freshmen in assists per game (2.9), fifth in steals per game (1.4) and seventh in scoring average (9.3).
• Powell put up 19 points against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since Nov. of 2017, while in her first career start against Indiana she scored 15 points. Powell has scored in double figures in nine games this year.
• With Scalia averaging 11.3 points per game and Powell at 9.3, the Gophers' duo is showing the makings of one of the top freshman scoring combinations in recent program history. In the last 25 years, the only other season in which more than one freshman averaged at least 9.0 points per game came in 2000-01 when current head coach Lindsay Whalen (17.0) and Tanisha Gilbert (14.7) did it.
• Additionally, the four freshmen that have played this year, including Klarke Sconiers (3.8 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (1.3), 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 (.437; min. 25 attempts), 3-point percentage (.398; min. 25 attempts), steals (31) and minutes per game (32.0), third in free throw percentage (.852) and rebounding average (4.7), and fourth in scoring (11.3).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 39.8 stands as the third best ever by a Gopher freshman (min. 40 attempts) behind only Rachel Banham (42.5 in 2011-12) and Shayne Mullaney (40.5 in 2012-13).
• Among Big Ten freshman, she has the most 3-pointers made per game (1.9), is second in scoring average, minutes and steals per game (1.6), sixth in rebounding average and 11th 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 made her first career start Monday at Indiana, leads the team in free throws made (48) and attempted (68), is second in assists (58) and third in steals (28).
• Within the B1G, Powell is third among freshmen in assists per game (2.9), fifth in steals per game (1.4) and seventh in scoring average (9.3).
• Powell put up 19 points against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since Nov. of 2017, while in her first career start against Indiana she scored 15 points. Powell has scored in double figures in nine games this year.
• With Scalia averaging 11.3 points per game and Powell at 9.3, the Gophers' duo is showing the makings of one of the top freshman scoring combinations in recent program history. In the last 25 years, the only other season in which more than one freshman averaged at least 9.0 points per game came in 2000-01 when current head coach Lindsay Whalen (17.0) and Tanisha Gilbert (14.7) did it.
• Additionally, the four freshmen that have played this year, including Klarke Sconiers (3.8 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (1.3), 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 this season, forcing 339 turnovers while giving the ball away just 260 times through 20 games.
• Not only do the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten and 26th nationally with just 13.0 turnovers committed per game, they are also third in the B1G in turnover margin (+3.95; 45th nationally) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.05; 56th 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 26th nationally with just 13.0 turnovers committed per game, they are also third in the B1G in turnover margin (+3.95; 45th nationally) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.05; 56th 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. There have been only four games this year where they have failed to earn at least one point for every turnover forced. The Gophers have turned 339 takeaways into 391 points this year, an average of 1.15 points for every turnover forced.
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