University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, January 4
Lincoln, Neb.
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
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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/ Women's Basketball
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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: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Look to Continue Road Success Saturday at Nebraska
1/3/2020 10:23:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS --Â No. 24 Minnesota (11-2, 1-1 B1G) is back out on the road this weekend as it travels to Nebraska (11-2, 1-1) to face the Cornhuskers Saturday.
The game, which starts at 5 p.m. CT, can be seen by a national TV audience on Big Ten Network and heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
FACING NEBRASKA
LAST SEASON AGAINST NEBRASKA
RECAPPING THE OHIO STATE GAME
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
The game, which starts at 5 p.m. CT, can be seen by a national TV audience on Big Ten Network and heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Minnesota is back in the AP Top 25 this week at No. 24. It's the Gophers' first appearance in the poll since it was No. 23 in the preseason poll. They are 4-2 all-time as the No. 24 team, and prior to Tuesday's game against Ohio State, all games as No. 24 came during the team's 2004 NCAA Tournament run to the Final Four.
• Minnesota is 4-0 on the road this season with wins over Notre Dame, American, George Washington and Penn State. The Golden Gophers have won those games by an average score of 77-61. The four-game stretch is tied for the seventh longest road win streak in program history and is the longest since also winning four straight from Jan. 9 to Feb. 2, 2006. It's also tied for the 10th longest active road win streak in the nation. Sara Scalia leads the Gophers in scoring on the road this year at 16.0 points per game. She's one of four in double figures along with Destiny Pitts (15.5) and Gadiva Hubbard (12.5). Taiye Bello is averaging a double-double in road games this year at 14.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per contest. As a team, the Gophers are shooting 46.9% (115-245) from the field on the road and 47.7% (42-88) on 3-pointers.Â
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted seven double-doubles this year, including a stretch of four straight at one point. She also has had three other games this year where she was either one point or one rebound away from a double-double. Her seven double-doubles lead the Big Ten and are 13th nationally. In her career, Bello has 22 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 19-3 in those games. Through Wednesday, she was one of 27 players in the country, and the only one from the Big Ten, to be averaging a double-double. Even better, she was one of just 20 players nationally with her averages of 12.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game this year.
• Through the first eight games of the season, junior Destiny Pitts was averaging a very respectable 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. But she's been red-hot over her last five games, averaging 21.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest. She's scored at least 19 points in each of the five games, including 26 points vs. Ohio State Tuesday, and is shooting 44.4 percent (32-72) from the floor and 52.5 percent (21-40) on 3's.
• Minnesota saw its 11-game win streak end with a 66-63 loss to Ohio State Tuesday. It was the sixth longest win streak in program history and the longest since the team opened last season with 12 straight victories.
• The Gophers' 11-1 start to the season was the fifth best one-loss start in program annals. Minnesota started 15-1 in both 2002-03 and 2003-04, while in 2014-15 it began the year 14-1 and it was 12-1 to start a year ago.
• Minnesota is 4-0 on the road this season with wins over Notre Dame, American, George Washington and Penn State. The Golden Gophers have won those games by an average score of 77-61. The four-game stretch is tied for the seventh longest road win streak in program history and is the longest since also winning four straight from Jan. 9 to Feb. 2, 2006. It's also tied for the 10th longest active road win streak in the nation. Sara Scalia leads the Gophers in scoring on the road this year at 16.0 points per game. She's one of four in double figures along with Destiny Pitts (15.5) and Gadiva Hubbard (12.5). Taiye Bello is averaging a double-double in road games this year at 14.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per contest. As a team, the Gophers are shooting 46.9% (115-245) from the field on the road and 47.7% (42-88) on 3-pointers.Â
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted seven double-doubles this year, including a stretch of four straight at one point. She also has had three other games this year where she was either one point or one rebound away from a double-double. Her seven double-doubles lead the Big Ten and are 13th nationally. In her career, Bello has 22 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 19-3 in those games. Through Wednesday, she was one of 27 players in the country, and the only one from the Big Ten, to be averaging a double-double. Even better, she was one of just 20 players nationally with her averages of 12.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game this year.
• Through the first eight games of the season, junior Destiny Pitts was averaging a very respectable 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. But she's been red-hot over her last five games, averaging 21.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest. She's scored at least 19 points in each of the five games, including 26 points vs. Ohio State Tuesday, and is shooting 44.4 percent (32-72) from the floor and 52.5 percent (21-40) on 3's.
• Minnesota saw its 11-game win streak end with a 66-63 loss to Ohio State Tuesday. It was the sixth longest win streak in program history and the longest since the team opened last season with 12 straight victories.
• The Gophers' 11-1 start to the season was the fifth best one-loss start in program annals. Minnesota started 15-1 in both 2002-03 and 2003-04, while in 2014-15 it began the year 14-1 and it was 12-1 to start a year ago.
FACING NEBRASKA
• Minnesota and Nebraska meet for the 23rd time on Saturday. The Huskers hold a 13-9 edge in the series.
• Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten prior to the 2011-12 season, it holds an 8-4 lead over Minnesota.
• In Lincoln, the Huskers have won 10 of the 13 meetings between the schools, including last year's matchup.
• Nebraska has two Minnesotans on its roster: sophomores Sam Haiby from Moorhead (Moorhead HS) and Kayla Mershon from Chanhassen (Minnetonka HS).
• The Cornhuskers are 11-2 on the season. 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. After opening Big Ten play with a 78-69 win over Iowa on Dec. 28, Nebraska lost at Michigan State in overtime on Tuesday, 78-70.
• Nebraska has three players averaging double figures with Leigha Brown leading the way at 14.0 points per game. Haiby is right behind her at 11.3, while Kate Cain is third at 10.5 along with averaging a team-best 7.2 rebounds per contest.
• Cain is also second in the Big Ten with 2.92 blocks per contest. As a team, the Huskers lead the conference and rank 14th nationally with 5.7 blocks per game.
• Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten prior to the 2011-12 season, it holds an 8-4 lead over Minnesota.
• In Lincoln, the Huskers have won 10 of the 13 meetings between the schools, including last year's matchup.
• Nebraska has two Minnesotans on its roster: sophomores Sam Haiby from Moorhead (Moorhead HS) and Kayla Mershon from Chanhassen (Minnetonka HS).
• The Cornhuskers are 11-2 on the season. 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. After opening Big Ten play with a 78-69 win over Iowa on Dec. 28, Nebraska lost at Michigan State in overtime on Tuesday, 78-70.
• Nebraska has three players averaging double figures with Leigha Brown leading the way at 14.0 points per game. Haiby is right behind her at 11.3, while Kate Cain is third at 10.5 along with averaging a team-best 7.2 rebounds per contest.
• Cain is also second in the Big Ten with 2.92 blocks per contest. As a team, the Huskers lead the conference and rank 14th nationally with 5.7 blocks per game.
LAST SEASON AGAINST NEBRASKA
• Minnesota had a six-point lead with four minutes to go but Nebraska ended on a 12-0 run to knock off the Golden Gophers, 63-57, when the teams met last season in Lincoln.Â
• Kenisha Bell was one of three in double figures for the Gophers as she had a team-high 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Meanwhile, Annalese Lamke had 10 points and seven rebounds, while Destiny Pitts also had 10 points. Taiye Bello was the game's leading rebounder as she pulled down 13 boards to go with seven points.
• The Golden Gophers had a 46-38 lead going into the fourth quarter and had their biggest lead of the game less than three minutes into the final frame at 50-41. Later in the quarter, Nebraska made its first 3-pointer of the game to cut it to 55-51, but Bell answered as she was fouled on a 3-point attempt of her own and made two of the three shots to put the Gophers ahead 57-51 with exactly four minutes to go.
• Nebraska began its game-ending run by making 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to tie the game at 57 with 3:06 to play. A pair of free throws by Hannah Whitfish then put the Huskers ahead 59-57. The Gophers had chances to tie, but committed turnovers on three straight trips down the floor. A layup from Sam Haiby pushed the lead to four for Nebraska and, after another Minnesota turnover, she sank two free throws to ice the game with four seconds left.
• Kenisha Bell was one of three in double figures for the Gophers as she had a team-high 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Meanwhile, Annalese Lamke had 10 points and seven rebounds, while Destiny Pitts also had 10 points. Taiye Bello was the game's leading rebounder as she pulled down 13 boards to go with seven points.
• The Golden Gophers had a 46-38 lead going into the fourth quarter and had their biggest lead of the game less than three minutes into the final frame at 50-41. Later in the quarter, Nebraska made its first 3-pointer of the game to cut it to 55-51, but Bell answered as she was fouled on a 3-point attempt of her own and made two of the three shots to put the Gophers ahead 57-51 with exactly four minutes to go.
• Nebraska began its game-ending run by making 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to tie the game at 57 with 3:06 to play. A pair of free throws by Hannah Whitfish then put the Huskers ahead 59-57. The Gophers had chances to tie, but committed turnovers on three straight trips down the floor. A layup from Sam Haiby pushed the lead to four for Nebraska and, after another Minnesota turnover, she sank two free throws to ice the game with four seconds left.
RECAPPING THE OHIO STATE GAME
• Minnesota saw its 11-game win streak come to an end Tuesday in a 66-63 loss to Ohio State at Williams Arena.
• Destiny Pitts led all scorers with 26 points, tying herself for the most points scored by a Gopher this year (also had 26 against Montana State on Nov. 23) and now has 1,180 for her career to pass Angie Iverson (1,162) for 17th on the Gophers' all-time scoring list. Pitts made five 3-pointers Tuesday and added seven rebounds.
• Taiye Bello recorded her seventh double-double of the season and the 22nd of her career as she finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Of her 14 rebounds, 11 came on the defensive end. Her career rebounding total now stands at 853, moving her past Iverson (848) for sixth on Minnesota's career list.
• Jasmine Brunson also reached double figures for the fifth time this year as she posted 13 points, two off her season high. She was 6-of-8 from the floor.
• The Gophers found themselves down 16-15 early in the second before the Buckeyes went on a 16-3 run to go up 32-18 with 2:24 left in the first half.Â
• The Gophers finished the first half on 10-2 run to trail 34-28 going into halftime. Minnesota carried that momentum into the second half as it scored the first 10 points to extend their run to 20-2 and a 38-34 lead just over four minutes into the third quarter. Pitts had 10 of the team's 20 points during the run, while Bello had six.
• In the fourth quarter, Pitts' fifth 3-pointer of the game put Minnesota up 63-59 with 2:55 to go, but that would be the team's final basket of the game as Ohio State scored the final seven points to win for the sixth straight time in the series.
• Destiny Pitts led all scorers with 26 points, tying herself for the most points scored by a Gopher this year (also had 26 against Montana State on Nov. 23) and now has 1,180 for her career to pass Angie Iverson (1,162) for 17th on the Gophers' all-time scoring list. Pitts made five 3-pointers Tuesday and added seven rebounds.
• Taiye Bello recorded her seventh double-double of the season and the 22nd of her career as she finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Of her 14 rebounds, 11 came on the defensive end. Her career rebounding total now stands at 853, moving her past Iverson (848) for sixth on Minnesota's career list.
• Jasmine Brunson also reached double figures for the fifth time this year as she posted 13 points, two off her season high. She was 6-of-8 from the floor.
• The Gophers found themselves down 16-15 early in the second before the Buckeyes went on a 16-3 run to go up 32-18 with 2:24 left in the first half.Â
• The Gophers finished the first half on 10-2 run to trail 34-28 going into halftime. Minnesota carried that momentum into the second half as it scored the first 10 points to extend their run to 20-2 and a 38-34 lead just over four minutes into the third quarter. Pitts had 10 of the team's 20 points during the run, while Bello had six.
• In the fourth quarter, Pitts' fifth 3-pointer of the game put Minnesota up 63-59 with 2:55 to go, but that would be the team's final basket of the game as Ohio State scored the final seven points to win for the sixth straight time in the series.
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
• Through 13 games, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring and production in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen.
• The Gophers are averaging 77.9 points per game this year, nearly five points better than the 73.1 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 85 points better than last year even though they have 91 more attempts this year. The team's current .402 mark on 3-pointers is on pace to break the school record of .399 set in 1988-89.
• Individually, Destiny Pitts is shooting 46.7 percent (42-90) on 3-pointers this year, after making 36.0 percent (27-75) through 13 games a year ago. In addition, freshman Sara Scalia (45.1%) and redshirt junior Gadiva Hubbard (40.6%), who missed last year with an injury, have also bolstered the 3-point shooting.
• Minnesota is also 95 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 25th nationally by shooting .767 percent from the line. That would top the program record of .763 set in the 2009-10 season.
• At the line, six Gophers have attempted at least 10 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 74 percent, including Pitts (84.6) and Jasmine Powell (77.1), who rank first and ninth, respectively, in the B1G in free throw percentage. Last year at this stage, of the six players with at least 10 attempts, only two were shooting above 66 percent from the line.
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
• The Gophers are averaging 77.9 points per game this year, nearly five points better than the 73.1 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 85 points better than last year even though they have 91 more attempts this year. The team's current .402 mark on 3-pointers is on pace to break the school record of .399 set in 1988-89.
• Individually, Destiny Pitts is shooting 46.7 percent (42-90) on 3-pointers this year, after making 36.0 percent (27-75) through 13 games a year ago. In addition, freshman Sara Scalia (45.1%) and redshirt junior Gadiva Hubbard (40.6%), who missed last year with an injury, have also bolstered the 3-point shooting.
• Minnesota is also 95 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 25th nationally by shooting .767 percent from the line. That would top the program record of .763 set in the 2009-10 season.
• At the line, six Gophers have attempted at least 10 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 74 percent, including Pitts (84.6) and Jasmine Powell (77.1), who rank first and ninth, respectively, in the B1G in free throw percentage. Last year at this stage, of the six players with at least 10 attempts, only two were shooting above 66 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.Â
• Sara Scalia, who has started every contest this year except for the season opener, leads the team in free throw percentage (.867), is second in field goal percentage (.477), 3-point percentage (.451), minutes per game (30.1) and steals (23), third in rebounding average (4.2) and fourth in scoring (10.9).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 45.1 stands as the best ever by a Gopher freshman (min. 40 attempts) and is currently the fourth best in one season at Minnesota (min. 50 attempts).
• 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 later followed that up 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 also scored 22 points at Penn State on Dec. 28, tying a career high with five 3-pointers made and matching career bests in both rebounds (7) and assists (4).
• Jasmine Powell, who has come off the bench in all 13 games, is fifth on the team in scoring at 9.2 points per game and has a 2.10-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks sixth in the Big Ten. She's also 37-of-48 (.771) at the line to rank third on the team in free throws made and attempted and ninth in the B1G in percentage.
• Powell put up 19 points against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since teammate Destiny Pitts had 20 on Nov. 16, 2017, and has scored in double figures in four games this year.
• With Scalia averaging 10.9 points per game and Powell at 9.2, 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 (3.7 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (0.8), have combined for 24.6 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, leads the team in free throw percentage (.867), is second in field goal percentage (.477), 3-point percentage (.451), minutes per game (30.1) and steals (23), third in rebounding average (4.2) and fourth in scoring (10.9).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 45.1 stands as the best ever by a Gopher freshman (min. 40 attempts) and is currently the fourth best in one season at Minnesota (min. 50 attempts).
• 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 later followed that up 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 also scored 22 points at Penn State on Dec. 28, tying a career high with five 3-pointers made and matching career bests in both rebounds (7) and assists (4).
• Jasmine Powell, who has come off the bench in all 13 games, is fifth on the team in scoring at 9.2 points per game and has a 2.10-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks sixth in the Big Ten. She's also 37-of-48 (.771) at the line to rank third on the team in free throws made and attempted and ninth in the B1G in percentage.
• Powell put up 19 points against Vermont on Nov. 10, the most by a non-starter at Minnesota since teammate Destiny Pitts had 20 on Nov. 16, 2017, and has scored in double figures in four games this year.
• With Scalia averaging 10.9 points per game and Powell at 9.2, 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 (3.7 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (0.8), have combined for 24.6 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 239 turnovers while giving the ball away just 166 times through 13 games.
• Not only do the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten and 22nd nationally with with just 12.8 turnovers committed per game, they are also third in the B1G in turnover margin (+5.62; 30th nationally), fourth in turnovers forced per game (18.38) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.17; 37th 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 three games this year with less than 10 turnovers and only four contests where it has turned the ball over more than 15 times.
• Five 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. They have turned 239 takeaways into 290 points this year, an average of 1.21 points for every turnover forced. There have been only two games this year where they have failed to earn at least one point for every turnover forced.Â
IN THE POLLS
• Not only do the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten and 22nd nationally with with just 12.8 turnovers committed per game, they are also third in the B1G in turnover margin (+5.62; 30th nationally), fourth in turnovers forced per game (18.38) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.17; 37th 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 three games this year with less than 10 turnovers and only four contests where it has turned the ball over more than 15 times.
• Five 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. They have turned 239 takeaways into 290 points this year, an average of 1.21 points for every turnover forced. There have been only two games this year where they have failed to earn at least one point for every turnover forced.Â
IN THE POLLS
• Minnesota is back in the AP Top 25 at No. 24 this week and is second among teams receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll, coming in at 27th.Â
• The Gophers moved up two spots from last week in the AP Poll, but dropped one place in the Coaches Poll.Â
• Nine of the Gophers' opponents this season currently appear in at least one of the two Top-25 polls. Maryland (12 AP/11 Coaches), Indiana (14/15) and Missouri State (21/19) are ranked in both polls.
• Meanwhile, Arizona State, Michigan, Northwestern and Rutgers are receiving votes in each poll, while Michigan State and Nebraska are receiving votes in just the AP poll.
• The Gophers moved up two spots from last week in the AP Poll, but dropped one place in the Coaches Poll.Â
• Nine of the Gophers' opponents this season currently appear in at least one of the two Top-25 polls. Maryland (12 AP/11 Coaches), Indiana (14/15) and Missouri State (21/19) are ranked in both polls.
• Meanwhile, Arizona State, Michigan, Northwestern and Rutgers are receiving votes in each poll, while Michigan State and Nebraska are receiving votes in just the AP poll.
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win at Drake
Tuesday, December 23
Highlights: Gophers 68, Drake 43
Sunday, December 21
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-Wyoming
Tuesday, December 16
Highlights: Gophers 80, Wyoming 34
Sunday, December 14