University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, December 23
1:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Indiana
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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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Return To Action by Hosting No. 19 Indiana Wednesday
12/22/2020 10:35:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- After a nine-day layoff for Finals, Minnesota women's basketball (1-3, 0-2 B1G) is back in action Wednesday at home against No. 19/18 Indiana (3-2, 1-0) at 1 p.m.
The game, which is the only regular season matchup between the schools and is the final game of the calendar year for Minnesota, will be available to stream on BTN Plus and can be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
FACING INDIANA
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE HOOSIERS
The game, which is the only regular season matchup between the schools and is the final game of the calendar year for Minnesota, will be available to stream on BTN Plus and can be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• The Gophers are 1-2 at home this season. Jasmine Powell leads the team with 19.7 points per game at Williams Arena, while Kadi Sissoko (15.3) and Gadiva Hubbard (13.3) are also in double figures. Hubbard is also tops on the team at home in free throw percentage (88.9) and 3-point percentage (44.4). Klarke Sconiers is averaging a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game at home and is shooting a team-best 56.3 percent from the floor.
• Jasmine Powell leads the Gophers with a scoring average of 18.5 points per game this season, including 21 points in the opener against Eastern Illinois and 22 more against Drake. She was the first Gopher since Carlie Wagner in 2016-17 to score at least 20 points in each of the first two games in a season. In addition to her scoring prowess, which is currently eighth in the Big Ten, Powell leads all Power 5 players and is fifth nationally in assists per game (7.0).
• In the season opener, Kadi Sissoko scored 24 points in her first game at Minnesota to tie a school record for points a debut (Kenisha Bell vs. VCU, 11/15/16). Her 24 points were also the most in a season opener by a Gopher since Carlie Wagner opened the 2016-17 campaign with 27 points against Harvard. Sissoko leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game (4.2), is 11th in blocked shots per game (1.25) and ranks 20th in scoring (15.0).
• After scoring 6 points in the season opener, Gadiva Hubbard produced consecutive games with 17 points and four 3-pointers made versus Drake and Michigan State. Only twice last year did she combine for more than 34 points in back-to-back games (38 vs. Bryant (18) and Notre Dame (20); 35 vs. Iowa (18) and Purdue (17)). She's shooting 42.4 percent (14-33) from the floor over the last three games and 40.9 percent (9-22) on 3's.
• Sopohomore Klarke Sconiers has filled a big void in the frontcourt after Minnesota lost three post players from last year's squad. Her scoring is up 4.0 points per game, while her rebound average is over 5.0. In addition, she's playing nearly 13.0 more minutes per game; she's already played more than half of her total minutes from a year ago.
• Jasmine Powell leads the Gophers with a scoring average of 18.5 points per game this season, including 21 points in the opener against Eastern Illinois and 22 more against Drake. She was the first Gopher since Carlie Wagner in 2016-17 to score at least 20 points in each of the first two games in a season. In addition to her scoring prowess, which is currently eighth in the Big Ten, Powell leads all Power 5 players and is fifth nationally in assists per game (7.0).
• In the season opener, Kadi Sissoko scored 24 points in her first game at Minnesota to tie a school record for points a debut (Kenisha Bell vs. VCU, 11/15/16). Her 24 points were also the most in a season opener by a Gopher since Carlie Wagner opened the 2016-17 campaign with 27 points against Harvard. Sissoko leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game (4.2), is 11th in blocked shots per game (1.25) and ranks 20th in scoring (15.0).
• After scoring 6 points in the season opener, Gadiva Hubbard produced consecutive games with 17 points and four 3-pointers made versus Drake and Michigan State. Only twice last year did she combine for more than 34 points in back-to-back games (38 vs. Bryant (18) and Notre Dame (20); 35 vs. Iowa (18) and Purdue (17)). She's shooting 42.4 percent (14-33) from the floor over the last three games and 40.9 percent (9-22) on 3's.
• Sopohomore Klarke Sconiers has filled a big void in the frontcourt after Minnesota lost three post players from last year's squad. Her scoring is up 4.0 points per game, while her rebound average is over 5.0. In addition, she's playing nearly 13.0 more minutes per game; she's already played more than half of her total minutes from a year ago.
FACING INDIANA
• Minnesota and Indiana will meet for the 71st time on Wednesday with the Gophers holding a 37-33 lead in the all-time series.
• The .529 win percentage for Minnesota against Indiana is its third best against all teams it has faced at least 20 times in its history, bettered only by its .544 mark (43-36) against Wisconsin and .538 percentage (35-30) against Michigan.
• The 37 wins are tied for the Gophers' second most against one team along with Northwestern. The only team Minnesota has beaten more is Wisconsin (43).
• In Minneapolis, Minnesota leads the series 20-12. The .625 win percentage is its best against one team at home (min. 10 games), while the 20 wins are tied for the Gophers' second most against one team at home along with Northwestern. The only team Minnesota has beaten more in Minneapolis is Wisconsin (21). Indiana has won the last two in Minneapolis, though.
• Indiana enters the game with a 3-2 record on the season and 1-0 in league play after an 81-45 win over Nebraska on Sunday. The Hoosiers opened the year with consecutive wins over Eastern Kentucky and Samford but lost in back-to-back games against then-No. 11 Kentucky and Tennessee before taking down the Huskers.
• Four Hoosiers are averaging double figures with Mackenzie Holmes leading the way at 15.4 points per game, while Grace Berger (13.2), Ali Patberg (12.6) and Aleksa Gulbe (10.4) are also in double figure range. Gulbe is also the team's top rebounder at 8.6 boards per game.
• In addition to leading her team in scoring, Holmes also leads the conference and ranks seventh in the country with 3.4 blocked shots per game.
• Berger is one of three players in the country this year with a triple-double, recording 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the season opener against EKU.
• As a team, Indiana leads the Big Ten with 46.8 rebounds per game (24th in the country) and by holding opponents to 52.0 points per contest (13th). The Hoosiers are also second in the conference in fewest turnovers per game (10.8; 9th) and opponent field goal percentage (31.2; 11th).
• The .529 win percentage for Minnesota against Indiana is its third best against all teams it has faced at least 20 times in its history, bettered only by its .544 mark (43-36) against Wisconsin and .538 percentage (35-30) against Michigan.
• The 37 wins are tied for the Gophers' second most against one team along with Northwestern. The only team Minnesota has beaten more is Wisconsin (43).
• In Minneapolis, Minnesota leads the series 20-12. The .625 win percentage is its best against one team at home (min. 10 games), while the 20 wins are tied for the Gophers' second most against one team at home along with Northwestern. The only team Minnesota has beaten more in Minneapolis is Wisconsin (21). Indiana has won the last two in Minneapolis, though.
• Indiana enters the game with a 3-2 record on the season and 1-0 in league play after an 81-45 win over Nebraska on Sunday. The Hoosiers opened the year with consecutive wins over Eastern Kentucky and Samford but lost in back-to-back games against then-No. 11 Kentucky and Tennessee before taking down the Huskers.
• Four Hoosiers are averaging double figures with Mackenzie Holmes leading the way at 15.4 points per game, while Grace Berger (13.2), Ali Patberg (12.6) and Aleksa Gulbe (10.4) are also in double figure range. Gulbe is also the team's top rebounder at 8.6 boards per game.
• In addition to leading her team in scoring, Holmes also leads the conference and ranks seventh in the country with 3.4 blocked shots per game.
• Berger is one of three players in the country this year with a triple-double, recording 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the season opener against EKU.
• As a team, Indiana leads the Big Ten with 46.8 rebounds per game (24th in the country) and by holding opponents to 52.0 points per contest (13th). The Hoosiers are also second in the conference in fewest turnovers per game (10.8; 9th) and opponent field goal percentage (31.2; 11th).
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE HOOSIERS
• Minnesota dropped both contests to the Hoosiers last season: first on the road to then-No. 20/24 Indiana, 65-52, on Jan. 27 and then at home, 75-69, on Feb. 22 to a Hoosier squad that was ranked 24th.
• In the first meeting in Bloomington, three Gophers reached double figures with Jasmine Powell, who made the first start of her career, leading the way with 15 points and a team-high three assists. Taiye Bello recorded a double-double as she finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Jasmine Brunson matched Bello with 11 points.
• 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.
• In Minneapolis, a back-and-forth contest featured 11 ties and 12 lead changes but Minnesota was unable to score the upset.
• Powell was one of four Golden Gophers in double figures with a team-high 21 points, fifteen of which came in the first half, including 10 in the first quarter alone. She was 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
• Brunson tallied 14 points, going 10-of-12 at the free throw line, and added five rebounds on the night and matched a season high with five rebounds.
• Bello notched 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Gadiva Hubbard also hit double figures with 11 points.
• Donning pink uniforms in the team's annual Play4Kay event, Minnesota was down 57-53 entering the fourth quarter, but Brunson put the team on her back by going on a personal 6-2 run to even the contest up at 59-59 with 8:10 to go. Indiana would briefly go ahead but on the next possession Brunson found Scalia open in the corner and she knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Gophers up 62-21, their first lead since 37-35.
• Indiana responded, though, with an 11-3 run over the next five minutes to turn a one-point deficit into a 72-65 advantage with 2:17 remaining. Twice within the stretch the Gophers were able to get within two points, including at 67-65 with 3:42 to go after a pair of free throws from Powell. Brenna Wise answered on the other end, however, with a 3-pointer and Minnesota wouldn't get closer than five the rest of the way.
• The Hoosiers were led by Ali Patberg and Grace Berger. Patberg scored 29 points, with 25 coming in the first half, while Berger recorded 14 of her 18 points in the second half also had a game-high nine rebounds and five assists.
RECAPPING THE GAME AT NORTHWESTERN
• Playing on the road for the first time this season, Minnesota lost at No. 16/17 Northwestern on Dec. 14, 80-51, in Evanston, Ill.
• Jasmine Powell and Kadi Sissoko reached double figures for the Golden Gophers scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively.
• Powell added seven assists, five rebounds, a season-high three steals and her two blocks tied a career high.
• Sissoko scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half, including all seven of Minnesota's points in the third quarter. She matched a career high with nine rebounds, finishing one shy of her first career double-double.
• A 3-pointer from Sara Scalia gave the Golden Gophers an early 3-2 lead, but the Wildcats scored the next 17 points to lead 19-3 less than five minutes into the first quarter.
• Veronica Burton finished with a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists for Northwestern, while Sydney Wood (19), Lindsey Pulliam (13) and Courtney Shaw (10) all reached double figures.
• The Golden Gophers got the game back within single digits multiple times in the first half, including as late as 32-23 with 5:32 to play in the second quarter. Northwestern immediately responded with an 8-0 run at that point and led by double digits the rest of the way.
GOPHERS GAINING EXPERIENCE WITH YOUNG ROSTER
• With nine of its 12 players either freshmen or sophomores, no team in the Big Ten has a higher percentage of its roster comprised of underclassmen than Minnesota. Wisconsin (73.3 percent) and Maryland (70) are the only other teams at 70 percent or higher.
• Through Dec. 21, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 8,216 minutes, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten. For comparison, Purdue leads the conference with a combined 15,150 minutes, while Wednesday's opponent, Indiana, is fourth with 11,366 minutes.
• Redshirt senior Gadiva Hubbard (2,988) accounts for over a third of the Gophers' career minutes herself. The other two upperclassmen are graduate transfer Laura Bagwell Katalinich (1,512) and junior Kayla Mershon (872). Bagwell Katalinich has played in just one game due to injury, while Mershon is currently sitting out as a transfer. Those three combine for nearly two-thirds of the Gophers' career minutes (5,372 minutes; 65.4 percent).
• Of the 11 Gophers to play this year, five are playing in their first season of collegiate basketball, while sophomore Klarke Sconiers has increased her playing time from 10.6 minutes per game last year to 23.2 this year and sophomore transfer Kadi Sissoko has jumped from a 9.7 average as a freshman at Syracuse in 2018-19 to 33.4 this year.
• In the first meeting in Bloomington, three Gophers reached double figures with Jasmine Powell, who made the first start of her career, leading the way with 15 points and a team-high three assists. Taiye Bello recorded a double-double as she finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Jasmine Brunson matched Bello with 11 points.
• 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.
• In Minneapolis, a back-and-forth contest featured 11 ties and 12 lead changes but Minnesota was unable to score the upset.
• Powell was one of four Golden Gophers in double figures with a team-high 21 points, fifteen of which came in the first half, including 10 in the first quarter alone. She was 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
• Brunson tallied 14 points, going 10-of-12 at the free throw line, and added five rebounds on the night and matched a season high with five rebounds.
• Bello notched 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Gadiva Hubbard also hit double figures with 11 points.
• Donning pink uniforms in the team's annual Play4Kay event, Minnesota was down 57-53 entering the fourth quarter, but Brunson put the team on her back by going on a personal 6-2 run to even the contest up at 59-59 with 8:10 to go. Indiana would briefly go ahead but on the next possession Brunson found Scalia open in the corner and she knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Gophers up 62-21, their first lead since 37-35.
• Indiana responded, though, with an 11-3 run over the next five minutes to turn a one-point deficit into a 72-65 advantage with 2:17 remaining. Twice within the stretch the Gophers were able to get within two points, including at 67-65 with 3:42 to go after a pair of free throws from Powell. Brenna Wise answered on the other end, however, with a 3-pointer and Minnesota wouldn't get closer than five the rest of the way.
• The Hoosiers were led by Ali Patberg and Grace Berger. Patberg scored 29 points, with 25 coming in the first half, while Berger recorded 14 of her 18 points in the second half also had a game-high nine rebounds and five assists.
RECAPPING THE GAME AT NORTHWESTERN
• Playing on the road for the first time this season, Minnesota lost at No. 16/17 Northwestern on Dec. 14, 80-51, in Evanston, Ill.
• Jasmine Powell and Kadi Sissoko reached double figures for the Golden Gophers scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively.
• Powell added seven assists, five rebounds, a season-high three steals and her two blocks tied a career high.
• Sissoko scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half, including all seven of Minnesota's points in the third quarter. She matched a career high with nine rebounds, finishing one shy of her first career double-double.
• A 3-pointer from Sara Scalia gave the Golden Gophers an early 3-2 lead, but the Wildcats scored the next 17 points to lead 19-3 less than five minutes into the first quarter.
• Veronica Burton finished with a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists for Northwestern, while Sydney Wood (19), Lindsey Pulliam (13) and Courtney Shaw (10) all reached double figures.
• The Golden Gophers got the game back within single digits multiple times in the first half, including as late as 32-23 with 5:32 to play in the second quarter. Northwestern immediately responded with an 8-0 run at that point and led by double digits the rest of the way.
GOPHERS GAINING EXPERIENCE WITH YOUNG ROSTER
• With nine of its 12 players either freshmen or sophomores, no team in the Big Ten has a higher percentage of its roster comprised of underclassmen than Minnesota. Wisconsin (73.3 percent) and Maryland (70) are the only other teams at 70 percent or higher.
• Through Dec. 21, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 8,216 minutes, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten. For comparison, Purdue leads the conference with a combined 15,150 minutes, while Wednesday's opponent, Indiana, is fourth with 11,366 minutes.
• Redshirt senior Gadiva Hubbard (2,988) accounts for over a third of the Gophers' career minutes herself. The other two upperclassmen are graduate transfer Laura Bagwell Katalinich (1,512) and junior Kayla Mershon (872). Bagwell Katalinich has played in just one game due to injury, while Mershon is currently sitting out as a transfer. Those three combine for nearly two-thirds of the Gophers' career minutes (5,372 minutes; 65.4 percent).
• Of the 11 Gophers to play this year, five are playing in their first season of collegiate basketball, while sophomore Klarke Sconiers has increased her playing time from 10.6 minutes per game last year to 23.2 this year and sophomore transfer Kadi Sissoko has jumped from a 9.7 average as a freshman at Syracuse in 2018-19 to 33.4 this year.
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