University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, February 6
Madison, Wis.
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Wisconsin
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Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Go for Third Straight Win Thursday at Wisconsin
2/5/2020 10:09:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- In the second of two games between the teams this season, Minnesota (14-8, 4-7 B1G) visits Wisconsin (11-11, 3-8) Thursday night. The game, which starts at 7 p.m., can be streamed on BTN Plus and heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
FACING WISCONSIN
EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST THE BADGERS
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER RUTGERS
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Minnesota is 5-3 this season in road games, outscoring teams by an average of 70-64. The Gophers opened the season with four straight road wins for hte seventh longest such streak in program history. Sara Scalia is the team's top scorer on the road this year at 14.0 points per game, while Taiye Bello is not far behind her at 13.7 points and a team-best 10.3 rebounds per road contest. Gadiva Hubbard is also in double figures away from home this year at 11.5 points per game.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted 11 double-doubles this year. She had a stretch of four straight at toward the end of the non-conference and now has three straight and four in her last five 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 13th 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 18 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, with her averages of 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this year.
• Bello had arguably the best game of her career Sunday 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.
• After coming off the bench for her first 19 games, freshman Jasmine Powell has started each of the last three contests and is thriving. 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 on Thursday by tying a career high with 19 points and adding seven rebounds, four steals and three assists, then recorded 19 points, five rebounds and four assists while playing over 47 minutes against Rutgers Sunday. As a reserve through 19 games, Powell was averaging 8.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals while playing 20.3 minutes per game. In her three games as a starter, Powell is posting 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals while playing 41.7 minutes per game.
• Senior Taiye Bello has posted 11 double-doubles this year. She had a stretch of four straight at toward the end of the non-conference and now has three straight and four in her last five 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 13th 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 18 players nationally, and the only one from the Big Ten, with her averages of 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this year.
• Bello had arguably the best game of her career Sunday 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.
• After coming off the bench for her first 19 games, freshman Jasmine Powell has started each of the last three contests and is thriving. 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 on Thursday by tying a career high with 19 points and adding seven rebounds, four steals and three assists, then recorded 19 points, five rebounds and four assists while playing over 47 minutes against Rutgers Sunday. As a reserve through 19 games, Powell was averaging 8.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals while playing 20.3 minutes per game. In her three games as a starter, Powell is posting 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals while playing 41.7 minutes per game.
FACING WISCONSIN
• Minnesota and Wisconsin meet for the 79th time on Thursday. That will tie the Gophers' series with Iowa for their most meetings against one opponent.
• With a 72-62 loss on Jan. 22, the Gophers saw their 13-game win streak in the series snapped. It was the longest ever for either team in the series and was the Gophers' second longest all-time against one team. Only a 16-0 stretch against Northwestern from Feb. 2000 to Jan. 2009 was longer.
• Minnesota is 16-18 all-time at Wisconsin, their most road wins against one program. The Gophers have won six in a row in Madison, not losing at the Kohl Center since Jan. 9, 2011. The average score in those games has been 71-59.
• The six game road win streak in the series is Minnesota's longest active versus one school ahead of five in a row at Northern Iowa.
• Owning a 2-1 mark against Wisconsin, a win Thursday would mark the first time Lindsay Whalen has beaten a team three times in her coaching career.
• For the first time since the 2014-15 season, Minnesota has no Wisconsinites on its roster. Conversely, Wisconsin has four Minnesotans on its roster: Carmen Backes from Lindstrom (Chisago Lakes HS), Courtney Fredrickson from Minnetonka (Minnetonka HS), Suzanne Gilreath from Brooklyn Park (Fridley HS) and Sara Stapleton from Blaine (Centennial HS).
• Wisconsin enters the game 11-11 on the season and 3-8 in Big Ten play. The Badgers started the year with wins in five of its first six games, but then went 4-8 over their next 12 games. Since then, UW has gone 2-2.
• Imani Lewis leads Wisconsin in scoring and rebounding with 15.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Abby Laszewski is second to Lewis in both points (11.3) and rebounds (6.7) per contest, while Sydney Hillard is also in double figures at 10.0 per game.
• With a 72-62 loss on Jan. 22, the Gophers saw their 13-game win streak in the series snapped. It was the longest ever for either team in the series and was the Gophers' second longest all-time against one team. Only a 16-0 stretch against Northwestern from Feb. 2000 to Jan. 2009 was longer.
• Minnesota is 16-18 all-time at Wisconsin, their most road wins against one program. The Gophers have won six in a row in Madison, not losing at the Kohl Center since Jan. 9, 2011. The average score in those games has been 71-59.
• The six game road win streak in the series is Minnesota's longest active versus one school ahead of five in a row at Northern Iowa.
• Owning a 2-1 mark against Wisconsin, a win Thursday would mark the first time Lindsay Whalen has beaten a team three times in her coaching career.
• For the first time since the 2014-15 season, Minnesota has no Wisconsinites on its roster. Conversely, Wisconsin has four Minnesotans on its roster: Carmen Backes from Lindstrom (Chisago Lakes HS), Courtney Fredrickson from Minnetonka (Minnetonka HS), Suzanne Gilreath from Brooklyn Park (Fridley HS) and Sara Stapleton from Blaine (Centennial HS).
• Wisconsin enters the game 11-11 on the season and 3-8 in Big Ten play. The Badgers started the year with wins in five of its first six games, but then went 4-8 over their next 12 games. Since then, UW has gone 2-2.
• Imani Lewis leads Wisconsin in scoring and rebounding with 15.0 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Abby Laszewski is second to Lewis in both points (11.3) and rebounds (6.7) per contest, while Sydney Hillard is also in double figures at 10.0 per game.
EARLIER THIS SEASON AGAINST THE BADGERS
• Minnesota saw its 13-game win streak over Wisconsin come to an end in a 72-62 loss on Jan. 22.
• Four players reached double figures for Minnesota with Jasmine Brunson and Gadiva Hubbard leading the way with 12 points each. Jasmine Powell pitched in with 11 points off the bench, while Sara Scalia added 10 points.
• Taiye Bello was one point away from a double-double as she finished with 13 rebounds and nine points.
• Wisconsin, which was led by Imani Lewis' 23 points and 16 rebounds, led 20-14 after the first quarter, but the Gophers turned it on in the second and outscored the Badgers 23-14 in the stanza highlighted by an 11-2 run.
• Unfortunately Minnesota couldn't keep the momentum up in the second half as Wisconsin held a 19-8 edge in the third quarter. Tied at 45-45 with 5:18 to play in the frame, Wisconsin closed out the quarter on an 8-0 run and led 53-45 entering the fourth. Minnesota would get as close as five midway through the final frame.
• Four players reached double figures for Minnesota with Jasmine Brunson and Gadiva Hubbard leading the way with 12 points each. Jasmine Powell pitched in with 11 points off the bench, while Sara Scalia added 10 points.
• Taiye Bello was one point away from a double-double as she finished with 13 rebounds and nine points.
• Wisconsin, which was led by Imani Lewis' 23 points and 16 rebounds, led 20-14 after the first quarter, but the Gophers turned it on in the second and outscored the Badgers 23-14 in the stanza highlighted by an 11-2 run.
• Unfortunately Minnesota couldn't keep the momentum up in the second half as Wisconsin held a 19-8 edge in the third quarter. Tied at 45-45 with 5:18 to play in the frame, Wisconsin closed out the quarter on an 8-0 run and led 53-45 entering the fourth. Minnesota would get as close as five midway through the final frame.
LAST TIME IN MADISON
• Minnesota defeated Wisconsin, 78-50, when the teams met last season in Madison on Jan. 17.
• Kenisha Bell posted a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists. Two others almost had double-doubles, as well, as Annalese Lamke had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Taiye Bello contributed 14 points and nine boards.
• The Gophers never trailed in the game, scoring the first five points of the contest and opening the game on an 11-2 run. They led 17-10 after the first quarter and then outscored the Badgers 18-7 in the second quarter to lead 35-17 at the half.
• The Minnesota defense forced 16 Wisconsin turnovers in the game, including six in the first quarter alone and 10 in the first half.
• Wisconsin never got closer than 16 points in the second half, while the Gophers' biggest lead came on a 3-pointer by Mercedes Staples that put them up 74-41 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
• Kenisha Bell posted a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists. Two others almost had double-doubles, as well, as Annalese Lamke had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Taiye Bello contributed 14 points and nine boards.
• The Gophers never trailed in the game, scoring the first five points of the contest and opening the game on an 11-2 run. They led 17-10 after the first quarter and then outscored the Badgers 18-7 in the second quarter to lead 35-17 at the half.
• The Minnesota defense forced 16 Wisconsin turnovers in the game, including six in the first quarter alone and 10 in the first half.
• Wisconsin never got closer than 16 points in the second half, while the Gophers' biggest lead came on a 3-pointer by Mercedes Staples that put them up 74-41 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
RECAPPING THE WIN OVER RUTGERS
• Led by a career day from Taiye Bello, Minnesota outlasted Rutgers Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena, 73-71, in two overtimes.
• In just the eighth game in program history to go more than one overtime, Bello scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds, including 14 on the defensive end. Playing over 46 minutes, she was 15-of-19 at the free throw line and also blocked four shots, tied a career high with three assists, recorded two steals and attempted the first two 3-pointers of her career in her 113th game.
• Jamine Powell equaled Bello with 19 points of her own to tie a career high. Playing over 47 minutes, Powell was a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line and had five rebounds with four assists.
• Also in double figures was Gadiva Hubbard, who finished with 17 points thanks in part to five 3-pointers while playing over 49 minutes.
• Down 30-27 at halftime, Minnesota stepped up its defense in the third quarter and outscored Rutgers, 11-5, in the frame. It was the lowest point total the Gophers had allowed in any quarter this season.
• Rutgers opened the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run to lead by as many as seven, but Minnesota chipped away and found itself down 56-52 with just 38 seconds remaining. Hubbard closed the gap to just one point with a 3-pointer, and the Gophers got the ball back down two after Khadaizha Sanders made one-of-two at the line. Needing to go the length of the court, Sara Scalia connected with Bello on a deep pass and Bello was fouled on her shot attempt. Bello calmly stepped to the line and made both shots to force overtime.
• In the first overtime, Rutgers scored four points within the first minute but was then held off the scoreboard for the remainder of the period. Down two with just over 30 seconds remaining, Bello rebounded a Powell miss and put it back in to tie the game and send it to a second overtime.
• Minnesota never trailed in the second overtime as Bello (5) and Powell (4) combined for nine of the team's 12 points, all of which came at the free throw line.
• In just the eighth game in program history to go more than one overtime, Bello scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds, including 14 on the defensive end. Playing over 46 minutes, she was 15-of-19 at the free throw line and also blocked four shots, tied a career high with three assists, recorded two steals and attempted the first two 3-pointers of her career in her 113th game.
• Jamine Powell equaled Bello with 19 points of her own to tie a career high. Playing over 47 minutes, Powell was a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line and had five rebounds with four assists.
• Also in double figures was Gadiva Hubbard, who finished with 17 points thanks in part to five 3-pointers while playing over 49 minutes.
• Down 30-27 at halftime, Minnesota stepped up its defense in the third quarter and outscored Rutgers, 11-5, in the frame. It was the lowest point total the Gophers had allowed in any quarter this season.
• Rutgers opened the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run to lead by as many as seven, but Minnesota chipped away and found itself down 56-52 with just 38 seconds remaining. Hubbard closed the gap to just one point with a 3-pointer, and the Gophers got the ball back down two after Khadaizha Sanders made one-of-two at the line. Needing to go the length of the court, Sara Scalia connected with Bello on a deep pass and Bello was fouled on her shot attempt. Bello calmly stepped to the line and made both shots to force overtime.
• In the first overtime, Rutgers scored four points within the first minute but was then held off the scoreboard for the remainder of the period. Down two with just over 30 seconds remaining, Bello rebounded a Powell miss and put it back in to tie the game and send it to a second overtime.
• Minnesota never trailed in the second overtime as Bello (5) and Powell (4) combined for nine of the team's 12 points, all of which came at the free throw line.
OFFENSE UP IN YEAR TWO UNDER WHALEN
• Through 22 games, the Minnesota offense has picked up its scoring and offensive production in year two under head coach Lindsay Whalen.
• The Gophers are averaging 72.6 points per game this year, over 4.0 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 60 points better than last year even though they have 136 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .368 mark on 3-pointers rank third in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally, but it is also on pace to be the ninth best in school history.
• Minnesota is also 73 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 30th nationally by shooting .756 percent from the line. Six Gophers have attempted at least 30 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 69 percent from the line.
FRESHMEN POWELL, SCALIA MAKING INSTANT IMPACT• The Gophers are averaging 72.6 points per game this year, over 4.0 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 60 points better than last year even though they have 136 more attempts this year. Not only does the team's current .368 mark on 3-pointers rank third in the Big Ten and 23rd nationally, but it is also on pace to be the ninth best in school history.
• Minnesota is also 73 points better on free throws as it leads the Big Ten and ranks 30th nationally by shooting .756 percent from the line. Six Gophers have attempted at least 30 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 69 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 field goal percentage (.419; min. 25 attempts), 3-point percentage (.381; min. 25 attempts) and minutes per game (32.3), third in free throw percentage (.824), rebounding average (4.5) and steals (32), and fourth in scoring (11.1).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 38.1 stands as the fourth 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) and Lindsay Lieser (38.4 in 1999-00).
• Among Big Ten freshman, she has the most 3-pointers made per game (1.8), is second in scoring average, minutes and steals per game (1.5), seventh in rebounding average and 10th in assists per game (1.5).
• Against Bryant on Nov. 26, she scored 20 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds en route to being named B1G Freshman of the Week. She followed that at George Washington on Dec. 10 when she set or tied multiple career highs, including points (23), rebounds (7), steals (4) and blocks (2).
• She scored 22 points in her Big Ten debut at Penn State on Dec. 28, tying a career high with five 3-pointers made. Against Iowa on Jan. 16, she had her first career double-double with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds then followed with 18 points at Purdue to earn her second B1G Freshman of the Week honor.
• Jasmine Powell, who has started each of the past three games after coming off the bench in the previous 21, is second on the team in free throws made (61) and attempted (83), assists (65) and steals (33).
• Within the B1G, Powell leads all freshmen in free throw percentage (73.5), is second in assists (3.0) and steals per game (1.5), fifth in scoring average (10.1) and seventh in minutes per game (23.2).
• 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. Powell has scored in double figures in 11 games this year, including each of the last five.
• With Scalia averaging 11.1 points per game and Powell at 10.1, 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 (3.8 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (1.3), have combined for 26.3 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, is second on the team in field goal percentage (.419; min. 25 attempts), 3-point percentage (.381; min. 25 attempts) and minutes per game (32.3), third in free throw percentage (.824), rebounding average (4.5) and steals (32), and fourth in scoring (11.1).
• Scalia's 3-point percentage of 38.1 stands as the fourth 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) and Lindsay Lieser (38.4 in 1999-00).
• Among Big Ten freshman, she has the most 3-pointers made per game (1.8), is second in scoring average, minutes and steals per game (1.5), seventh in rebounding average and 10th in assists per game (1.5).
• Against Bryant on Nov. 26, she scored 20 points and tied a career high with seven rebounds en route to being named B1G Freshman of the Week. She followed that at George Washington on Dec. 10 when she set or tied multiple career highs, including points (23), rebounds (7), steals (4) and blocks (2).
• She scored 22 points in her Big Ten debut at Penn State on Dec. 28, tying a career high with five 3-pointers made. Against Iowa on Jan. 16, she had her first career double-double with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds then followed with 18 points at Purdue to earn her second B1G Freshman of the Week honor.
• Jasmine Powell, who has started each of the past three games after coming off the bench in the previous 21, is second on the team in free throws made (61) and attempted (83), assists (65) and steals (33).
• Within the B1G, Powell leads all freshmen in free throw percentage (73.5), is second in assists (3.0) and steals per game (1.5), fifth in scoring average (10.1) and seventh in minutes per game (23.2).
• 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. Powell has scored in double figures in 11 games this year, including each of the last five.
• With Scalia averaging 11.1 points per game and Powell at 10.1, 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 (3.8 ppg) and Barbora Tomancova (1.3), have combined for 26.3 points per game, the highest figure among Gopher freshmen in the last 13 years and third largest in the last 25 years.
GOPHERS WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE
• Minnesota is winning the turnover battle this season, forcing 378 turnovers while giving the ball away just 298 times through 22 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 third in the B1G in turnover margin (+3.64; 52nd nationally), and fifth in turnovers forced per game (17.18).
• 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 six 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. There have been only five games this year where they have failed to earn at least one point for every turnover forced. They have turned 378 takeaways into 429 points this year, an average of 1.13 points 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 third in the B1G in turnover margin (+3.64; 52nd nationally), and fifth in turnovers forced per game (17.18).
• 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 six 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. There have been only five games this year where they have failed to earn at least one point for every turnover forced. They have turned 378 takeaways into 429 points this year, an average of 1.13 points for every turnover forced.
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Tuesday, October 28
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Gopher Practice on VHS
Tuesday, October 28
Making Connections: Brylee Glenn & Niamya Holloway
Wednesday, October 22