University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, February 13
Columbus, Ohio
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Ohio State
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Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Two-Game Road Trip Starts Thursday at Ohio State
2/12/2020 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- In the second of two meetings between the teams this season, Minnesota (15-9, 5-8 B1G) visits Ohio State (14-9, 7-5) Thursday night to kick off a two-game road trip that also sees Minnesota head to Michigan State Monday. Thursday's game, which starts at 6 p.m., can be streamed on BTN Plus and heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
FACING OHIO STATE
EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST THE BUCKEYES
RECAPPING THE GAME AGAINST MICHIGAN
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• The teams met earlier this season in Minneapolis on Dec. 31 with the Buckeyes prevailing, 66-63. More information on that matchup and on the all-time series can be found below in this preview. Thursday will be the third time this season that the Gophers will have a rematch against an opponent. In both previous instances, against Nebraska and Wisconsin, Minnesota lost the first meeting and then won the second.
• Minnesota is 6-3 this season in road games, outscoring teams by an average of 71-64. The Gophers opened the season with four straight road wins for the seventh longest such streak in program history. Sara Scalia is the team's top scorer on the road this year at 14.2 points per game, while Taiye Bello is not far behind her at 12.5 points and a team-best 9.8 rebounds per road contest. Gadiva Hubbard (11.0) and Jasmine Powell (10.6) are also in double figures away from home this year.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted 11 double-doubles this year. She had a stretch of four straight toward the end of the non-conference and now has four in her last seven games. She also has had five other performances this year where she was either one point or one rebound away from a double-double. Her 11 double-doubles lead the Big Ten and are 21st nationally. In her career, Bello has 26 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 22-4 in those games. Through Monday's games, she is one of just 31 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, to be averaging a double-double and one of 24 with her season averages of 12.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game this year.
• After coming off the bench for her first 19 games, freshman Jasmine Powell has started each of the last five contests and is thriving in her new role. She made her first career start on Jan. 27 at Indiana, scoring a team-high 15 points while playing all 40 minutes. She followed that with 19 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists vs. Nebraska, then recorded 19 points, five rebounds and four assists while playing over 47 minutes against Rutgers on Feb. 2. Last Thursday at Wisconsin, she established a new career high with 24 points, as well as five rebounds and five assists before hitting 20 points again Monday vs. Michigan. She's the first Gopher freshman to have consecutive 20-point games since Amanda Zahui B. in Feb. of 2014. As a reserve through 19 games, Powell was averaging 8.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals while playing 20.3 minutes per game. In her five games as a starter, Powell is posting 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals while playing 41.2 minutes per game.
• Minnesota is 6-3 this season in road games, outscoring teams by an average of 71-64. The Gophers opened the season with four straight road wins for the seventh longest such streak in program history. Sara Scalia is the team's top scorer on the road this year at 14.2 points per game, while Taiye Bello is not far behind her at 12.5 points and a team-best 9.8 rebounds per road contest. Gadiva Hubbard (11.0) and Jasmine Powell (10.6) are also in double figures away from home this year.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted 11 double-doubles this year. She had a stretch of four straight toward the end of the non-conference and now has four in her last seven games. She also has had five other performances this year where she was either one point or one rebound away from a double-double. Her 11 double-doubles lead the Big Ten and are 21st nationally. In her career, Bello has 26 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 22-4 in those games. Through Monday's games, she is one of just 31 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, to be averaging a double-double and one of 24 with her season averages of 12.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game this year.
• After coming off the bench for her first 19 games, freshman Jasmine Powell has started each of the last five contests and is thriving in her new role. She made her first career start on Jan. 27 at Indiana, scoring a team-high 15 points while playing all 40 minutes. She followed that with 19 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists vs. Nebraska, then recorded 19 points, five rebounds and four assists while playing over 47 minutes against Rutgers on Feb. 2. Last Thursday at Wisconsin, she established a new career high with 24 points, as well as five rebounds and five assists before hitting 20 points again Monday vs. Michigan. She's the first Gopher freshman to have consecutive 20-point games since Amanda Zahui B. in Feb. of 2014. As a reserve through 19 games, Powell was averaging 8.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals while playing 20.3 minutes per game. In her five games as a starter, Powell is posting 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals while playing 41.2 minutes per game.
FACING OHIO STATE
• Minnesota and Ohio State will meet for the 76th time on Thursday. It's Minnesota's third-most played series behind only Iowa (79 meetings) and Wisconsin (78).
• Series history has not been in the Gophers' favor as they trail the Buckeyes, 59-16, and have lost six straight. The six-game losing streak is their longest active streak against one team, while the 59 all-time losses are their most against any other program.
• In Columbus, Ohio State holds a 27-3 series lead, including each of the last two. Prior to that, the Gophers had won two straight on the road against OSU.
• Minnesota freshman Klarke Sconiers and Ohio State freshman Kaelynn Satterfield were teammates at Christ the King High School in New York.
• Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen was teammates with Ohio State assistant coach Tamika Williams during the 2008 WNBA season with the Connecticut Sun.
• Ohio State is 14-9 overall on the season and 7-5 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have won their last three games, their longest win streak in conference play this year. Prior to that, they had last three of their previous four games.
• As a team, Ohio State leads the Big Ten and is 45th nationally with 540 3-pointers attempted. It is also second in the league and 36th in the country in blocks per game at 4.7. In conference games, the Buckeyes have made a league-best 8.2 3-pointers per game.
• Dorka Juhasz leads the team in both scoring and rebounding at 13.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest. Also in double figures for OSU is Kierstan Bell at 11.1 points per game. Meanwhile, Braxtin Miller is third in the Big Ten with a 2.39 assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Series history has not been in the Gophers' favor as they trail the Buckeyes, 59-16, and have lost six straight. The six-game losing streak is their longest active streak against one team, while the 59 all-time losses are their most against any other program.
• In Columbus, Ohio State holds a 27-3 series lead, including each of the last two. Prior to that, the Gophers had won two straight on the road against OSU.
• Minnesota freshman Klarke Sconiers and Ohio State freshman Kaelynn Satterfield were teammates at Christ the King High School in New York.
• Minnesota head coach Lindsay Whalen was teammates with Ohio State assistant coach Tamika Williams during the 2008 WNBA season with the Connecticut Sun.
• Ohio State is 14-9 overall on the season and 7-5 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes have won their last three games, their longest win streak in conference play this year. Prior to that, they had last three of their previous four games.
• As a team, Ohio State leads the Big Ten and is 45th nationally with 540 3-pointers attempted. It is also second in the league and 36th in the country in blocks per game at 4.7. In conference games, the Buckeyes have made a league-best 8.2 3-pointers per game.
• Dorka Juhasz leads the team in both scoring and rebounding at 13.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest. Also in double figures for OSU is Kierstan Bell at 11.1 points per game. Meanwhile, Braxtin Miller is third in the Big Ten with a 2.39 assist-to-turnover ratio.
EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST THE BUCKEYES
• Minnesota saw its 11-game win streak come to an end on Dec. 31 in a 66-63 loss to Ohio State at Williams Arena.
• Destiny Pitts led all scorers with 26 points while Taiye Bello had a double-double with with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Of her 14 rebounds, 11 came on the defensive end. Jasmine Brunson also reached double figures as she posted 13 points.
• 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.
• 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 while Taiye Bello had a double-double with with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Of her 14 rebounds, 11 came on the defensive end. Jasmine Brunson also reached double figures as she posted 13 points.
• 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.
• 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.
LAST TIME IN COLUMBUS
• Minnesota and Ohio State last met in Columbus on Jan. 4, 2018 with the Buckeyes winning 91-75.
• Destiny Pitts had 28 points thanks to seven 3-pointers, including five in the fourth quarter alone, while Gadiva Hubbard (14) and Carlie Wagner (12) joined Pitts in reaching double figures. Taiye Bello added 10 rebounds off the bench.
• Already leading 20-12 after the first quarter, the Buckeyes outscored the Gophers, 29-8, in the second quarter to take a 49-20 lead into the locker room and never looked back.
• Destiny Pitts had 28 points thanks to seven 3-pointers, including five in the fourth quarter alone, while Gadiva Hubbard (14) and Carlie Wagner (12) joined Pitts in reaching double figures. Taiye Bello added 10 rebounds off the bench.
• Already leading 20-12 after the first quarter, the Buckeyes outscored the Gophers, 29-8, in the second quarter to take a 49-20 lead into the locker room and never looked back.
RECAPPING THE GAME AGAINST MICHIGAN
• Minnesota saw its three-game win streak come to an end Monday night in a 77-52 home loss to Michigan.
• Jasmine Powell was the offensive highlight for Minnesota, finishing with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go with three rebounds, three assists and a career best two blocks. It was Powell's seventh straight game in double figures and her second in a row reaching 20 points after a career-high 24 Thursday night at Wisconsin. Seventeen of Powell's points came in the first half, including 10 in the second quarter alone.
• Taiye Bello joined Powell in double figures with 13 points, Bello's team-leading 16th game this year with 10 or more points.
• The Wolverines came out of the gates quickly as they opened on a 13-5 run and led 23-14 after the first quarter. Michigan never trailed in the contest and the only tie came at 2-2.
• Michigan went up 12 at 29-17 midway through the second quarter, while Minnesota countered with its biggest run of the game by scoring the next five points. The Wolverines answered with six straight points and led 37-26 at halftime.
• The Golden Gophers were outscored 22-18 in the third quarter to find themselves down 59-44 going into the fourth. They would get as close as 13 at 61-48 with 8:40 to play, but Michigan scored the next six points to pull away.
• Jasmine Powell was the offensive highlight for Minnesota, finishing with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go with three rebounds, three assists and a career best two blocks. It was Powell's seventh straight game in double figures and her second in a row reaching 20 points after a career-high 24 Thursday night at Wisconsin. Seventeen of Powell's points came in the first half, including 10 in the second quarter alone.
• Taiye Bello joined Powell in double figures with 13 points, Bello's team-leading 16th game this year with 10 or more points.
• The Wolverines came out of the gates quickly as they opened on a 13-5 run and led 23-14 after the first quarter. Michigan never trailed in the contest and the only tie came at 2-2.
• Michigan went up 12 at 29-17 midway through the second quarter, while Minnesota countered with its biggest run of the game by scoring the next five points. The Wolverines answered with six straight points and led 37-26 at halftime.
• The Golden Gophers were outscored 22-18 in the third quarter to find themselves down 59-44 going into the fourth. They would get as close as 13 at 61-48 with 8:40 to play, but Michigan scored the next six points to pull away.
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
• Through 24 games, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring and offensive production in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen.
• The Gophers are averaging 71.8 points per game this year, over 3.0 points better than the 68.5 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 56 points better than last year even though they have 145 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .369 mark on 3-pointers rank second in the Big Ten and 19th nationally, but it is also on pace to be the ninth best in school history.
• Minnesota is also 64 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 42nd nationally by shooting .750 percent from the line. That figure is on pace to be the seventh best in school history. Six Gophers have attempted at least 35 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 70 percent. Last year at this stage, of the six players with at least 20 attempts, only two were shooting above 68 percent from the line.
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT• The Gophers are averaging 71.8 points per game this year, over 3.0 points better than the 68.5 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 56 points better than last year even though they have 145 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .369 mark on 3-pointers rank second in the Big Ten and 19th nationally, but it is also on pace to be the ninth best in school history.
• Minnesota is also 64 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 42nd nationally by shooting .750 percent from the line. That figure is on pace to be the seventh best in school history. Six Gophers have attempted at least 35 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 70 percent. Last year at this stage, of the six players with at least 20 attempts, only two were shooting above 68 percent from the line.
• Minnesota has six freshmen on its 2019-20 roster and some are already making significant contributions in their first year on campus.
• Sara Scalia, who has started every contest this year except for the season opener, is second on the team in 3-point pct. (.385; min. 30 attempts), steals (35) and minutes per game (32.3), and third in scoring (11.2), field goal pct. (.408; min. 75 attempts), free throw pct. (.806) and rebounds per game (4.5).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 38.5 stands as the third best ever by a Gopher freshman (min. 40 attempts) behind only Rachel Banham (42.5 in 2011-12), 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 minutes and steals per game (1.5), third in scoring (11.2), seventh in rebound average and 11th in assists per game (1.5).
• In conference games only, Scalia leads all freshmen in 3-pointers made/game (2.2) and minutes played (35.2), is second in 3-point percentage (37.3), third in scoring (11.9) and offensive rebounds/game (1.5), fifth in rebounding (4.9), sixth in steals (1.2) and defensive rebounds/game (3.4) and 13th in assists (1.4).
• 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.
• Scalia has 12 games this season in double figures, seven contests with at least 15 points and three 20-point outings.
• Jasmine Powell, who has started each of the past five games after coming off the bench in the previous 19, leads the team in free throws made (69) and assists (73) and is second in field goal attempts (245), free throw attempts (93) and steals (35).
• Within the B1G, Powell leads all freshmen in free throw percentage (74.2), is second in steals/game (1.5), third in assists (3.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2), fourth in scoring (11.1), seventh in minutes/game (24.6) and 10th in 3's made per game (0.8).
• In conference games only, Powell leads all freshmen in scoring (12.2) and steals/game (1.5), is second in free throw percentage (70.6), third in assists (2.5), fourth in minutes/game (28.1), fifth in 3's made/game (1.2), 12th in defensive rebounds/game (2.5) and is 14th in rebounding (3.2)
• 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. That was followed by back-to-back 19-point outings against Nebraska and Rutgers before posting a career-high 24 points at Wisconsin on Feb. 6 and 20 points vs. Michigan on Feb. 10. Powell has scored in double figures in 13 games this year, including each of the last seven contests and eight of the last nine. She has two 20-point games, which have come in each of the last two contests.
• With Scalia averaging 11.2 points per game and Powell at 11.1, the Gophers' duo is showing the makings of one of the top freshman scoring combinations in recent program history. In the last 25 years at Minnesota, 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 (1.1), have combined for 27.1 points per game, the highest figure among Gopher freshmen in the last 13 years and third largest in the last 25 years.
BELLO ENJOYING BIG SENIOR SEASON
• Sara Scalia, who has started every contest this year except for the season opener, is second on the team in 3-point pct. (.385; min. 30 attempts), steals (35) and minutes per game (32.3), and third in scoring (11.2), field goal pct. (.408; min. 75 attempts), free throw pct. (.806) and rebounds per game (4.5).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 38.5 stands as the third best ever by a Gopher freshman (min. 40 attempts) behind only Rachel Banham (42.5 in 2011-12), 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 minutes and steals per game (1.5), third in scoring (11.2), seventh in rebound average and 11th in assists per game (1.5).
• In conference games only, Scalia leads all freshmen in 3-pointers made/game (2.2) and minutes played (35.2), is second in 3-point percentage (37.3), third in scoring (11.9) and offensive rebounds/game (1.5), fifth in rebounding (4.9), sixth in steals (1.2) and defensive rebounds/game (3.4) and 13th in assists (1.4).
• 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.
• Scalia has 12 games this season in double figures, seven contests with at least 15 points and three 20-point outings.
• Jasmine Powell, who has started each of the past five games after coming off the bench in the previous 19, leads the team in free throws made (69) and assists (73) and is second in field goal attempts (245), free throw attempts (93) and steals (35).
• Within the B1G, Powell leads all freshmen in free throw percentage (74.2), is second in steals/game (1.5), third in assists (3.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2), fourth in scoring (11.1), seventh in minutes/game (24.6) and 10th in 3's made per game (0.8).
• In conference games only, Powell leads all freshmen in scoring (12.2) and steals/game (1.5), is second in free throw percentage (70.6), third in assists (2.5), fourth in minutes/game (28.1), fifth in 3's made/game (1.2), 12th in defensive rebounds/game (2.5) and is 14th in rebounding (3.2)
• 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. That was followed by back-to-back 19-point outings against Nebraska and Rutgers before posting a career-high 24 points at Wisconsin on Feb. 6 and 20 points vs. Michigan on Feb. 10. Powell has scored in double figures in 13 games this year, including each of the last seven contests and eight of the last nine. She has two 20-point games, which have come in each of the last two contests.
• With Scalia averaging 11.2 points per game and Powell at 11.1, the Gophers' duo is showing the makings of one of the top freshman scoring combinations in recent program history. In the last 25 years at Minnesota, 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 (1.1), have combined for 27.1 points per game, the highest figure among Gopher freshmen in the last 13 years and third largest in the last 25 years.
BELLO ENJOYING BIG SENIOR SEASON
• After a breakout junior year where she earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors from the coaches and media, Taiye Bello is having a strong senior season.
• Bello had arguably the best game of her career on Feb. 2 in a double overtime win over Rutgers as she grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds and scored 19 points. It tied for the fifth most rebounds in a game in program history and tied for 10th most in Big Ten annals. It was the highest rebound total for a Gopher since Amanda Zahui B. also had 22 against DePaul in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Offensively, Bello was 15-of-19 at the free throw line, recording the second most free throw attempts in program history and tying for the second most makes. Both numbers were also the most by a Big Ten player this year.
• In addition to her double-double prowess, Bello also leads the Big Ten in rebound average (10.0; 27th nationally), and total rebounds (231; 21st), is second in offensive rebounds per game (4.2; 15th), and fourth in blocks (43; 47th) and blocks per game (1.87; 49th).
• Bello has 14 games this year with 10 or more rebounds, including five of the last seven contests. In her career, she has 42 games with at least 10 rebounds, 14 games with at least 15 boards, eight games with at least 18 rebounds and two games with more than 20.
• Additionally, after entering the season as a 63.8 percent shooter on free throws in her career, Bello is currently at 70.1 percent from the line on the year.
• With eight offensive rebounds against Montana State on Nov. 23, Bello broke the Gophers' all-time offensive rebounding record of 361 set by Janel McCarville. Bello now has 439 in her career.
• She also ranks in the top 10 at Minnesota in career field goal percentage, rebounds, defensive rebounds, games with 10+ rebounds, blocks and double-doubles.
• Along with setting the Minnesota single-season record with 152 offensive rebounds last year, she also ranked fourth in team single-season history and tied for seventh in Big Ten history for total rebounds (380), fifth in team annals in rebound average (11.9) and defensive rebounds (228), and seventh in blocks (49).
HUBBARD BACK FROM FOOT INJURY
• Bello had arguably the best game of her career on Feb. 2 in a double overtime win over Rutgers as she grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds and scored 19 points. It tied for the fifth most rebounds in a game in program history and tied for 10th most in Big Ten annals. It was the highest rebound total for a Gopher since Amanda Zahui B. also had 22 against DePaul in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Offensively, Bello was 15-of-19 at the free throw line, recording the second most free throw attempts in program history and tying for the second most makes. Both numbers were also the most by a Big Ten player this year.
• In addition to her double-double prowess, Bello also leads the Big Ten in rebound average (10.0; 27th nationally), and total rebounds (231; 21st), is second in offensive rebounds per game (4.2; 15th), and fourth in blocks (43; 47th) and blocks per game (1.87; 49th).
• Bello has 14 games this year with 10 or more rebounds, including five of the last seven contests. In her career, she has 42 games with at least 10 rebounds, 14 games with at least 15 boards, eight games with at least 18 rebounds and two games with more than 20.
• Additionally, after entering the season as a 63.8 percent shooter on free throws in her career, Bello is currently at 70.1 percent from the line on the year.
• With eight offensive rebounds against Montana State on Nov. 23, Bello broke the Gophers' all-time offensive rebounding record of 361 set by Janel McCarville. Bello now has 439 in her career.
• She also ranks in the top 10 at Minnesota in career field goal percentage, rebounds, defensive rebounds, games with 10+ rebounds, blocks and double-doubles.
• Along with setting the Minnesota single-season record with 152 offensive rebounds last year, she also ranked fourth in team single-season history and tied for seventh in Big Ten history for total rebounds (380), fifth in team annals in rebound average (11.9) and defensive rebounds (228), and seventh in blocks (49).
HUBBARD BACK FROM FOOT INJURY
• Redshirt junior Gadiva Hubbard is back on the court this year after missing all of last season following surgery on her right foot on Oct. 19, 2018.
• She has started all 24 games this year and is averaging 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals while playing 32.0 minutes per game.
• Hubbard ranks seventh in the Big Ten this year in 3-pointers attempted (138) and eighth in 3-pointers made (47) and 3-pointers made per game (1.96).
• Hubbard scored a season-high 24 points against UC Davis (12/15) thanks to 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range and 6-of-8 shooting at the free throw line. It was her best scoring outing since going for 25 points against Penn State in Feb. of 2018. Hubbard also tied a season best with five rebounds. She also enjoyed a 20 point-game against then-No. 19 Arizona State on Nov. 17 and then matched that with 20 points, including six 3-pointers, in a win at Notre Dame on Dec. 4.
• With 991 career points, Hubbard is 9 points away from becoming the 26th player in Gophers history to reach 1,000 points in her career. Thursday marks her 80th career game. If she were to reach the mark then, it would be the 12th fewest games needed to get to 1,000 points in team history.
• Before her injury, Hubbard played in 32 games with 31 starts in 2017-18, finishing third on the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game and second with 3.4 assists.
• Hubbard ranked eighth in Minnesota history with 3-pointers attempted (198) and 10th with 3-pointers made (69) that season and reached double figures 23 times with eight 20-point games.
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• She has started all 24 games this year and is averaging 11.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals while playing 32.0 minutes per game.
• Hubbard ranks seventh in the Big Ten this year in 3-pointers attempted (138) and eighth in 3-pointers made (47) and 3-pointers made per game (1.96).
• Hubbard scored a season-high 24 points against UC Davis (12/15) thanks to 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range and 6-of-8 shooting at the free throw line. It was her best scoring outing since going for 25 points against Penn State in Feb. of 2018. Hubbard also tied a season best with five rebounds. She also enjoyed a 20 point-game against then-No. 19 Arizona State on Nov. 17 and then matched that with 20 points, including six 3-pointers, in a win at Notre Dame on Dec. 4.
• With 991 career points, Hubbard is 9 points away from becoming the 26th player in Gophers history to reach 1,000 points in her career. Thursday marks her 80th career game. If she were to reach the mark then, it would be the 12th fewest games needed to get to 1,000 points in team history.
• Before her injury, Hubbard played in 32 games with 31 starts in 2017-18, finishing third on the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game and second with 3.4 assists.
• Hubbard ranked eighth in Minnesota history with 3-pointers attempted (198) and 10th with 3-pointers made (69) that season and reached double figures 23 times with eight 20-point games.
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• Minnesota is winning the turnover battle this season, forcing 397 turnovers while giving the ball away just 328 times through 24 games.
• Not only do the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten and 45th nationally with just 13.7 turnovers committed per game, they are also fourth in the B1G in turnover margin (+2.88; 66th 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 seven contests where it has turned the ball over more than 15 times.
• Seven 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 397 takeaways into 447 points this year, an average of 1.13 points for every turnover forced. There have been only six games this year where they have failed to earn at least one point for every turnover forced.
• Not only do the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten and 45th nationally with just 13.7 turnovers committed per game, they are also fourth in the B1G in turnover margin (+2.88; 66th 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 seven contests where it has turned the ball over more than 15 times.
• Seven 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 397 takeaways into 447 points this year, an average of 1.13 points for every turnover forced. There have been only six games this year where they have failed to earn at least one point for every turnover forced.
Cinematic Recap: Gophers at Indiana
Wednesday, December 31
Highlights: Gophers 71, Indiana 48
Monday, December 29
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win at Drake
Tuesday, December 23
Highlights: Gophers 68, Drake 43
Sunday, December 21