University of Minnesota Athletics
Monday, February 17
East Lansing, Mich.
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
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Michigan State
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Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Match Up with Michigan State Monday on BTN
2/16/2020 12:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- In the only regular season meeting between the teams this season, Minnesota (15-10, 5-9 B1G) visits Michigan State State (12-12, 5-8) Monday night. The game, which starts at 6 p.m. CT, can be seen on Big Ten Network and heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 KFAN Plus.
The Golden Gophers are 3-4 this year on national TV, going 1-4 on BTN and 1-0 each on ACC Network and ESPN2.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
FACING MICHIGAN STATE
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE SPARTANS
RECAPPING THE GAME AT OHIO STATE
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
BELLO ENJOYING BIG SENIOR SEASON
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
The Golden Gophers are 3-4 this year on national TV, going 1-4 on BTN and 1-0 each on ACC Network and ESPN2.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Minnesota is 6-4 this season in road games. 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 12.7 points and a team-best 9.4 rebounds per road contest. Jasmine Powell (11.6) and Gadiva Hubbard (10.9) are also in double figures away from home this year.
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank 21st in the country in free throw percentage at 76.1 percent, making 340 of 447 attempts. That figure is on pace to be the third best in school history and the best since the 2012-13 campaign. The next closest Big Ten team to Minnesota in percentage is Iowa, which ranks 60th at 73.8 percent. The Gophers have had 11 games this year where they've collectively shot 80 percent or better at the line, including performances of 11-11 vs. Bryant, 27-31 vs. Milwaukee and 31-35 at Ohio State. The 31 makes against the Buckeyes tied for the 10th most in a game in team history.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted 11 double-doubles this year, five of which have come in conference play. 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 23rd nationally. In her career, Bello has 26 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 22-4 in those games. Though her season averages have slipped slightly below that of a double-double, through Thursday's games she is one of just 23 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, with her season averages of 12.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this year.
• After coming off the bench for her first 19 games, freshman Jasmine Powell has started each of the last six 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. She then rattled off three straight games of at least 20 points, including a career-high 24 at Wisconsin on Feb. 6. She's the first Gopher freshman to have three consecutive 20-point games in at least the last 25 years. As a reserve through 19 games, Powell was averaging 8.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists while playing 20.3 minutes per game. In her six games as a starter, Powell is posting 19.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists while playing 39.2 minutes per game.
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank 21st in the country in free throw percentage at 76.1 percent, making 340 of 447 attempts. That figure is on pace to be the third best in school history and the best since the 2012-13 campaign. The next closest Big Ten team to Minnesota in percentage is Iowa, which ranks 60th at 73.8 percent. The Gophers have had 11 games this year where they've collectively shot 80 percent or better at the line, including performances of 11-11 vs. Bryant, 27-31 vs. Milwaukee and 31-35 at Ohio State. The 31 makes against the Buckeyes tied for the 10th most in a game in team history.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted 11 double-doubles this year, five of which have come in conference play. 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 23rd nationally. In her career, Bello has 26 double-doubles to rank sixth in Gophers history, and the Gophers are 22-4 in those games. Though her season averages have slipped slightly below that of a double-double, through Thursday's games she is one of just 23 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, with her season averages of 12.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game this year.
• After coming off the bench for her first 19 games, freshman Jasmine Powell has started each of the last six 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. She then rattled off three straight games of at least 20 points, including a career-high 24 at Wisconsin on Feb. 6. She's the first Gopher freshman to have three consecutive 20-point games in at least the last 25 years. As a reserve through 19 games, Powell was averaging 8.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists while playing 20.3 minutes per game. In her six games as a starter, Powell is posting 19.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists while playing 39.2 minutes per game.
FACING MICHIGAN STATE
• Minnesota and Michigan State meet for the 67th time Monday. The Gophers trail in the all-time series 43-23.
• In East Lansing, Minnesota trails Michigan State, 24-7. The Gophers are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak at the Breslin Center, last winning there on Feb. 26, 2009. It's the team's second longest active road losing streak behind losing nine straight at Iowa.
• Minnesota has three Michigan natives on its roster. Jasmine Powell is from Detroit, which is about 90 minutes southeast of East Lansing. She won two state championships at Detroit County Day HS, including the 2017 title which took place at the Breslin Center. Kehinde and Taiye Bello are from Southfield (Southfield-Lathrup HS), which is about 70 minutes southeast of East Lansing.
• Michigan State has one Minnesotan on its roster: Nia Hollie from Minneapolis and Hopkins High School.
• Michigan State is 12-12 overall on the season and 5-8 in the Big Ten. The Spartans started league action 1-3 before winning three in a row to get above .500. However, they lost their next five before snapping the streak with a win over Rutgers Thursday.
• As a team, Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten in 3-pointers attempted (539) and opponent 3-percentage (.286), and third in steals (232), steals per game (9.7), and turnovers forced per game (17.88).
• Nia Clouden leads the team in scoring at 14.3 points per game and is second in the Big Ten with a .813 free throw percentage. Taryn McCutcheon is also in double figures at 10.9 points per game, while Kayla Belles is the team's top rebounder at 4.7 boards per contest.
• In East Lansing, Minnesota trails Michigan State, 24-7. The Gophers are looking to snap a seven-game losing streak at the Breslin Center, last winning there on Feb. 26, 2009. It's the team's second longest active road losing streak behind losing nine straight at Iowa.
• Minnesota has three Michigan natives on its roster. Jasmine Powell is from Detroit, which is about 90 minutes southeast of East Lansing. She won two state championships at Detroit County Day HS, including the 2017 title which took place at the Breslin Center. Kehinde and Taiye Bello are from Southfield (Southfield-Lathrup HS), which is about 70 minutes southeast of East Lansing.
• Michigan State has one Minnesotan on its roster: Nia Hollie from Minneapolis and Hopkins High School.
• Michigan State is 12-12 overall on the season and 5-8 in the Big Ten. The Spartans started league action 1-3 before winning three in a row to get above .500. However, they lost their next five before snapping the streak with a win over Rutgers Thursday.
• As a team, Michigan State ranks second in the Big Ten in 3-pointers attempted (539) and opponent 3-percentage (.286), and third in steals (232), steals per game (9.7), and turnovers forced per game (17.88).
• Nia Clouden leads the team in scoring at 14.3 points per game and is second in the Big Ten with a .813 free throw percentage. Taryn McCutcheon is also in double figures at 10.9 points per game, while Kayla Belles is the team's top rebounder at 4.7 boards per contest.
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE SPARTANS
• Minnesota and Michigan State split two games last season with each team protecting its home court.
• The teams first met in East Lansing on Jan. 9, and in a matchup of Top-25 teams, No. 18/20 Minnesota fell at No. 23/24 Michigan State, 86-68.
• Kenisha Bell led three Gophers in double figures with a team-best 20 points and game-high eight rebounds. Destiny Pitts scored 15 points with seven rebounds, while Jasmine Brunson added 11 points.
• Minnesota scored the final seven points of the opening quarter to trail 19-16, while a pair of free throws by Bell extended the run to 9-0 to open the second quarter and cut the lead to one. However, Michigan State countered with a 12-3 run of its own and outscored the Gophers 24-13 in the frame to lead 43-29 at halftime.
• In the second half, Minnesota busted out for 27 points in the third quarter, the third highest point total in any quarter by that point in the season. However, the Spartans scored 24 points of their own in the same frame to maintain a 67-56 advantage heading into the fourth. Minnesota was unable to get closer than that 11-point margin over the rest of the game.
• Minnesota and MSU then closed out the regular season against one another on March 3 and the Gophers sent off their seniors in style with an 82-63 victory.
• Pitts led all scorers with 26 points, while Bell posted 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Like Pitts, she was also a perfect 10-of-10 at the charity stripe. It was the first time in program history that two Gophers each attempted 10 free throws without a miss in the same game.
• Taiye Bello recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also blocked three shots. Brunson was the fourth Gopher to reach double figures, scoring 13 to go with six rebounds.
• The game was even after the first quarter at 14-14, but Minnesota outscored Michigan State, 17-6, in the second quarter to take control of the contest. The Spartans were held without a point for the final 5:03 of the frame.
• Minnesota closed out the opening half on an 8-0 run and led 31-20 at intermission. An early bucket for Michigan State cut the lead to nine points less than a minute into the third quarter, but Bell answered with a layup and Minnesota led by double digits the rest of the way.
• The 19-point margin of victory marked the largest ever for the Gophers against the Spartans, bettering a 16-point win in Feb. of 2009.
• The teams first met in East Lansing on Jan. 9, and in a matchup of Top-25 teams, No. 18/20 Minnesota fell at No. 23/24 Michigan State, 86-68.
• Kenisha Bell led three Gophers in double figures with a team-best 20 points and game-high eight rebounds. Destiny Pitts scored 15 points with seven rebounds, while Jasmine Brunson added 11 points.
• Minnesota scored the final seven points of the opening quarter to trail 19-16, while a pair of free throws by Bell extended the run to 9-0 to open the second quarter and cut the lead to one. However, Michigan State countered with a 12-3 run of its own and outscored the Gophers 24-13 in the frame to lead 43-29 at halftime.
• In the second half, Minnesota busted out for 27 points in the third quarter, the third highest point total in any quarter by that point in the season. However, the Spartans scored 24 points of their own in the same frame to maintain a 67-56 advantage heading into the fourth. Minnesota was unable to get closer than that 11-point margin over the rest of the game.
• Minnesota and MSU then closed out the regular season against one another on March 3 and the Gophers sent off their seniors in style with an 82-63 victory.
• Pitts led all scorers with 26 points, while Bell posted 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Like Pitts, she was also a perfect 10-of-10 at the charity stripe. It was the first time in program history that two Gophers each attempted 10 free throws without a miss in the same game.
• Taiye Bello recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also blocked three shots. Brunson was the fourth Gopher to reach double figures, scoring 13 to go with six rebounds.
• The game was even after the first quarter at 14-14, but Minnesota outscored Michigan State, 17-6, in the second quarter to take control of the contest. The Spartans were held without a point for the final 5:03 of the frame.
• Minnesota closed out the opening half on an 8-0 run and led 31-20 at intermission. An early bucket for Michigan State cut the lead to nine points less than a minute into the third quarter, but Bell answered with a layup and Minnesota led by double digits the rest of the way.
• The 19-point margin of victory marked the largest ever for the Gophers against the Spartans, bettering a 16-point win in Feb. of 2009.
RECAPPING THE GAME AT OHIO STATE
• Gadiva Hubbard joined the 1,000-point club but the Golden Gophers fell on the road Thursday night, 99-76, at Ohio State.
• With 5:58 left in the third quarter, Hubbard stepped to the line with 999 points and made both free throws to become the 26th player in Gophers history to reach 1,000 career points. Getting there in 80 games, she reached the mark in the 12th fewest contests in program annals. She finished with 10 points on the night to go with five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Jasmine Powell was the top scorer for Minnesota, notching 21 points, her third straight game with at least 20 points. Most of her work came at the free throw line as she was 14-of-15 from the stripe. Both numbers were career highs, while the 14 made free throws tied for the fourth most in a game in team history.
• Taiye Bello posted her team-leading 17th game in double figures this year as she recorded 14 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds. Sara Scalia matched Bello's 14 points thanks to four 3-pointers, one off a career high, while Masha Adashchyk hit double figures for the third time this year with 10 points off the bench.
• The game was tied 24-24 after the first quarter, marking the most points Minnesota had scored in an opening quarter since the Big Ten opener at Penn State.
• Ohio State pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring Minnesota, 25-13, in the stanza. The Golden Gophers led 28-27 but the Buckeyes went on a 12-2 run to take control of the game. The lead was 49-37 for OSU at the half.
• Minnesota came out strong from the locker room, scoring eight of the first 10 points in the third quarter to get within six at 51-45. However, Ohio State rattled off an 8-2 run of its own immediately after that and led by double digits the rest of the way.
• With 5:58 left in the third quarter, Hubbard stepped to the line with 999 points and made both free throws to become the 26th player in Gophers history to reach 1,000 career points. Getting there in 80 games, she reached the mark in the 12th fewest contests in program annals. She finished with 10 points on the night to go with five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
• Jasmine Powell was the top scorer for Minnesota, notching 21 points, her third straight game with at least 20 points. Most of her work came at the free throw line as she was 14-of-15 from the stripe. Both numbers were career highs, while the 14 made free throws tied for the fourth most in a game in team history.
• Taiye Bello posted her team-leading 17th game in double figures this year as she recorded 14 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds. Sara Scalia matched Bello's 14 points thanks to four 3-pointers, one off a career high, while Masha Adashchyk hit double figures for the third time this year with 10 points off the bench.
• The game was tied 24-24 after the first quarter, marking the most points Minnesota had scored in an opening quarter since the Big Ten opener at Penn State.
• Ohio State pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring Minnesota, 25-13, in the stanza. The Golden Gophers led 28-27 but the Buckeyes went on a 12-2 run to take control of the game. The lead was 49-37 for OSU at the half.
• Minnesota came out strong from the locker room, scoring eight of the first 10 points in the third quarter to get within six at 51-45. However, Ohio State rattled off an 8-2 run of its own immediately after that and led by double digits the rest of the way.
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
• Through 25 games, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring and certain shooting percentages in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen.
• The Gophers are averaging 71.9 points per game this year, 3.5 points better than the 68.4 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 48 points better than last year even though they have 165 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .365 mark on 3-pointers rank second in the Big Ten and 21st nationally, but it is also on pace to be the 10th best in school history.
• Minnesota is also 78 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 21st nationally by shooting .761 percent from the line. That figure is on pace to be the third best in school history. Six Gophers have attempted at least 35 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 71 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.
HUBBARD BECOMES 26TH MEMBER OF 1000-POINT CLUB
• The Gophers are averaging 71.9 points per game this year, 3.5 points better than the 68.4 points they were averaging at this same stage a season ago.
• The Gophers' shooting percentage on 3-pointers is 48 points better than last year even though they have 165 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .365 mark on 3-pointers rank second in the Big Ten and 21st nationally, but it is also on pace to be the 10th best in school history.
• Minnesota is also 78 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 21st nationally by shooting .761 percent from the line. That figure is on pace to be the third best in school history. Six Gophers have attempted at least 35 free throws this year and all are shooting better than 71 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.
HUBBARD BECOMES 26TH MEMBER OF 1000-POINT CLUB
• With 10 points at Ohio State on Feb. 13, redshirt junior Gadiva Hubbard became the 26th player in Gophers history to reach 1,000 points in her career.
• She did it just 80 games, the 12th fewest games needed to get to 1,000 points in team history. Hubbard stands at 1,001 points to rank 26th in team history.
• 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 25 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's made and attempted (49-143), ninth in 3's made per game (1.96) and 10th in steals per game (1.72)
• 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.
• 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.
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
• She did it just 80 games, the 12th fewest games needed to get to 1,000 points in team history. Hubbard stands at 1,001 points to rank 26th in team history.
• 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 25 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's made and attempted (49-143), ninth in 3's made per game (1.96) and 10th in steals per game (1.72)
• 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.
• 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.
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT
• 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, leads the team in minutes played (810), is second in 3-point pct. (.389; min. 35 attempts), steals (35) and minutes per game (32.4), third in field goal pct. (.406; min. 75 attempts), free throw pct. (.806) and rebounds per game (4.5) and fourth in scoring (11.3).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 38.9 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 (2.0), is second in minutes and steals per game (1.4), third in scoring (11.3), fifth in rebound average and 13th in assists per game (1.4).
• In conference games only, Scalia leads all freshmen in 3-pointers made/game (2.3) and minutes played (35.2), is second in 3-point percentage (38.1), third in scoring (12.1), fifth in rebounding (4.9) and defensive rebounds/game (3.5), sixth in offensive rebounds/game (1.4) and seventh in steals (1.1).
• 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 13 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 six games after coming off the bench in the previous 19, leads the team in field goal attempts (256), free throws made and attempted (83-108) and assists (74), and is second in steals (35).
• Within the B1G, Powell leads all freshmen in free throw percentage (76.9), is second in scoring (11.5) and steals/game (1.4), third in assists (3.0), seventh in minutes/game (24.8) and 10th in 3's made per game (0.8).
• In conference games only, Powell leads all freshmen in scoring (12.8), is second in free throw percentage (75.8) and steals/game (1.4), and fourth in 3-pointers made/game (1.2), assists (2.4) and minutes/game (28.1), and is 14th in rebounding (3.1)
• 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, 20 points vs. Michigan on Feb. 10 and 21 at Ohio State on Feb. 13.
• Powell has scored in double figures in 14 games this year, including each of the last eight contests and nine of the last 10. She has three 20-point games, all of which have come in the last three contests.
• With Powell averaging 11.5 points per game and Scalia at 11.3, the Gophers' duo is showing the makings of one of the top freshman scoring combinations in recent program history. In the last 25 years 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 (3.5 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (1.0), have combined for 27.3 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 minutes played (810), is second in 3-point pct. (.389; min. 35 attempts), steals (35) and minutes per game (32.4), third in field goal pct. (.406; min. 75 attempts), free throw pct. (.806) and rebounds per game (4.5) and fourth in scoring (11.3).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 38.9 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 (2.0), is second in minutes and steals per game (1.4), third in scoring (11.3), fifth in rebound average and 13th in assists per game (1.4).
• In conference games only, Scalia leads all freshmen in 3-pointers made/game (2.3) and minutes played (35.2), is second in 3-point percentage (38.1), third in scoring (12.1), fifth in rebounding (4.9) and defensive rebounds/game (3.5), sixth in offensive rebounds/game (1.4) and seventh in steals (1.1).
• 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 13 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 six games after coming off the bench in the previous 19, leads the team in field goal attempts (256), free throws made and attempted (83-108) and assists (74), and is second in steals (35).
• Within the B1G, Powell leads all freshmen in free throw percentage (76.9), is second in scoring (11.5) and steals/game (1.4), third in assists (3.0), seventh in minutes/game (24.8) and 10th in 3's made per game (0.8).
• In conference games only, Powell leads all freshmen in scoring (12.8), is second in free throw percentage (75.8) and steals/game (1.4), and fourth in 3-pointers made/game (1.2), assists (2.4) and minutes/game (28.1), and is 14th in rebounding (3.1)
• 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, 20 points vs. Michigan on Feb. 10 and 21 at Ohio State on Feb. 13.
• Powell has scored in double figures in 14 games this year, including each of the last eight contests and nine of the last 10. She has three 20-point games, all of which have come in the last three contests.
• With Powell averaging 11.5 points per game and Scalia at 11.3, the Gophers' duo is showing the makings of one of the top freshman scoring combinations in recent program history. In the last 25 years 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 (3.5 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (1.0), have combined for 27.3 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 (9.9; 34th nationally), and total rebounds (238; 27th), is second in offensive rebounds per game (4.0; 22nd), and fourth in blocks (43; 52nd) and blocks per game (1.79; 57th).
• 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)
• 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 (9.9; 34th nationally), and total rebounds (238; 27th), is second in offensive rebounds per game (4.0; 22nd), and fourth in blocks (43; 52nd) and blocks per game (1.79; 57th).
• 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)
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• Minnesota is winning the turnover battle this season, forcing 405 turnovers while giving the ball away just 338 times through 25 games.
• Not only do the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten and 39th nationally with just 13.5 turnovers committed per game, they are also fourth in the B1G in turnover margin (+2.68; 73rd 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 five 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 405 takeaways into 457 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 39th nationally with just 13.5 turnovers committed per game, they are also fourth in the B1G in turnover margin (+2.68; 73rd 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 five 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 405 takeaways into 457 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.
BIG TEN PLAYER RANKINGS
• In Big Ten play, Taiye Bello leads the league in rebounding average (9.8), is third in offensive (3.5) and defensive rebounds (6.3) per game, and is ninth in blocks per game (1.2).
• Sara Scalia is fifth in the league in 3-pointers made per game (2.3) and eighth in 3-point percentage (.381).
• Jasmine Powell is 12th in the conference in free throw percentage (.758) and is tied with Gadiva Hubbard, among others, for 16th in steals per game (1.4).
• Sara Scalia is fifth in the league in 3-pointers made per game (2.3) and eighth in 3-point percentage (.381).
• Jasmine Powell is 12th in the conference in free throw percentage (.758) and is tied with Gadiva Hubbard, among others, for 16th in steals per game (1.4).
Making Connections: Sophie Hart & Zoey Bershers
Friday, October 17
Behind the Scenes: B1G Media Day
Tuesday, October 14
Braun & Battle at B1G Media Day
Wednesday, October 08
Coach Plitzuweit at B1G Media Day
Wednesday, October 08