University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, January 3
Madison, Wis.
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Wisconsin
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Open New Year at Wisconsin Sunday
1/1/2021 10:22:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- After a 10-day layoff, Minnesota women's basketball is back in action Sunday at Wisconsin (3-3, 0-3 B1G) at 2 p.m.
The game, which is the first of two matchups between the schools this year, will be available to stream on BTN Plus and can be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
FACING WISCONSIN
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE BADGERS
RECAPPING THE GAME AGAINST INDIANA
GOPHERS GAINING EXPERIENCE WITH YOUNG ROSTER
The game, which is the first of two matchups between the schools this year, will be available to stream on BTN Plus and can be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.
THE OPENING TIP-OFF
• Sunday will be just the second road game of the season for the Golden Gophers. On Dec. 14, Minnesota lost at then-No. 16/17 Northwestern, 80-51.
• Jasmine Powell leads the Gophers with a scoring average of 17.2 points per game this season, including 21 points in the opener against Eastern Illinois and 22 more against Drake in game two. She was the first Gopher since Carlie Wagner in 2016-17 to score at least 20 points in each of the first two games in a season. In addition to her scoring prowess, which ranks 14th in the Big Ten, Powell is second in the conference and second among Power 5 players with her 6.2 assists per game.
• In the season opener, Kadi Sissoko scored 24 points in her first game at Minnesota to tie a school record for points a debut (Kenisha Bell vs. VCU, 11/15/16). Her 24 points were also the most in a season opener by a Gopher since Carlie Wagner opened the 2016-17 campaign with 27 points against Harvard. Sissoko leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game (4.0) and is 12th in blocked shots per game (1.00).
• In Big Ten play, Powell leads the team with a 14.3 scoring average, while Sissoko (10.0) and Gadiva Hubbard (10.0) are also in double figures. In addition, Sissoko is the team's leader in rebounds in conference action at 5.7 boards per game.
• Laura Bagwell Katalinich entered the starting lineup for the first time for the Gophers in their last outing against Indiana on Dec. 23. She finished with 10 points, six rebounds, a block and assist. She missed the first three games due to injury, but has averaged 5.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in her two games played this year. A graduate transfer from Cornell, Bagwell Katalinich averaged 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game in two seasons for the Big Red, shooting 45.6 percent from the floor and 79.9 percent on free throws.
• Sophomore Klarke Sconiers has filled a big void in the frontcourt after Minnesota lost three post players from last year's squad. Her scoring is up over 3.0 points per game, while her rebound average is over 4.0. In addition, she's playing nearly 11.0 more minutes per game. In fact, she's already played more than half of her total minutes from a year ago.
• Jasmine Powell leads the Gophers with a scoring average of 17.2 points per game this season, including 21 points in the opener against Eastern Illinois and 22 more against Drake in game two. She was the first Gopher since Carlie Wagner in 2016-17 to score at least 20 points in each of the first two games in a season. In addition to her scoring prowess, which ranks 14th in the Big Ten, Powell is second in the conference and second among Power 5 players with her 6.2 assists per game.
• In the season opener, Kadi Sissoko scored 24 points in her first game at Minnesota to tie a school record for points a debut (Kenisha Bell vs. VCU, 11/15/16). Her 24 points were also the most in a season opener by a Gopher since Carlie Wagner opened the 2016-17 campaign with 27 points against Harvard. Sissoko leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game (4.0) and is 12th in blocked shots per game (1.00).
• In Big Ten play, Powell leads the team with a 14.3 scoring average, while Sissoko (10.0) and Gadiva Hubbard (10.0) are also in double figures. In addition, Sissoko is the team's leader in rebounds in conference action at 5.7 boards per game.
• Laura Bagwell Katalinich entered the starting lineup for the first time for the Gophers in their last outing against Indiana on Dec. 23. She finished with 10 points, six rebounds, a block and assist. She missed the first three games due to injury, but has averaged 5.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in her two games played this year. A graduate transfer from Cornell, Bagwell Katalinich averaged 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game in two seasons for the Big Red, shooting 45.6 percent from the floor and 79.9 percent on free throws.
• Sophomore Klarke Sconiers has filled a big void in the frontcourt after Minnesota lost three post players from last year's squad. Her scoring is up over 3.0 points per game, while her rebound average is over 4.0. In addition, she's playing nearly 11.0 more minutes per game. In fact, she's already played more than half of her total minutes from a year ago.
FACING WISCONSIN
• Minnesota and Wisconsin meet for the 80th time on Sunday. That will tie the Gophers' series with Iowa for their most meetings against one opponent.
• Minnesota is 18-18 all-time at Wisconsin, its most road wins and best road win percentage against one program. The Gophers have won seven in a row in Madison, not losing at the Kohl Center since Jan. 9, 2011. The average score in those games has been 72-60.
• The seven game road win streak in the series is Minnesota's longest active versus one school ahead of five in a row at Northern Iowa and three-game road win streaks at Notre Dame, Purdue, Santa Clara and South Dakota.
• Owning a 3-1 mark against Wisconsin, a win Sunday would mark the first time Lindsay Whalen has beaten a team four times in her coaching career. She is also 3-0 against Penn State.
• Minnesota has two Wisconsinites on its roster in freshmen Erin Hedman (New Berlin; Eisenhower HS) and Caroline Strande (Racine; Racine Lutheran HS). Conversely, Wisconsin has two Minnesotans on its roster: sophomores Carmen Backes from Lindstrom (Chisago Lakes HS) and Sara Stapleton from Blaine (Centennial HS).
• Wisconsin enters the game 3-3 on the season and 0-3 in Big Ten play. The Badgers opened their season with a win but lost two straight league games after that to Iowa and Rutgers. After two more non-conference wins, Wisconsin fell at Michigan, 92-49, on Thursday.
• Sydney Hilliard leads the team and ranks fourth in the conference by averaging 20.7 points per game, while Imani Lewis is also in double figures at 13.3 points. Lewis is also the team's leading rebounder at 8.7 boards per game and has three double-doubles this year to rank second in the Big Ten.
• Minnesota is 18-18 all-time at Wisconsin, its most road wins and best road win percentage against one program. The Gophers have won seven in a row in Madison, not losing at the Kohl Center since Jan. 9, 2011. The average score in those games has been 72-60.
• The seven game road win streak in the series is Minnesota's longest active versus one school ahead of five in a row at Northern Iowa and three-game road win streaks at Notre Dame, Purdue, Santa Clara and South Dakota.
• Owning a 3-1 mark against Wisconsin, a win Sunday would mark the first time Lindsay Whalen has beaten a team four times in her coaching career. She is also 3-0 against Penn State.
• Minnesota has two Wisconsinites on its roster in freshmen Erin Hedman (New Berlin; Eisenhower HS) and Caroline Strande (Racine; Racine Lutheran HS). Conversely, Wisconsin has two Minnesotans on its roster: sophomores Carmen Backes from Lindstrom (Chisago Lakes HS) and Sara Stapleton from Blaine (Centennial HS).
• Wisconsin enters the game 3-3 on the season and 0-3 in Big Ten play. The Badgers opened their season with a win but lost two straight league games after that to Iowa and Rutgers. After two more non-conference wins, Wisconsin fell at Michigan, 92-49, on Thursday.
• Sydney Hilliard leads the team and ranks fourth in the conference by averaging 20.7 points per game, while Imani Lewis is also in double figures at 13.3 points. Lewis is also the team's leading rebounder at 8.7 boards per game and has three double-doubles this year to rank second in the Big Ten.
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE BADGERS
• Minnesota and Wisconsin split the season series a year ago with both teams winning on the road.
• The Gophers saw their 13-game win streak over the Badgers come to an end in a 72-62 loss on Jan. 22 in Minneapolis.
• 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 and Sara Scalia added 10.
• 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.
• Aided by a dominant first half, Minnesota forced a split in the Border Battle series with Wisconsin following a 73-64 win 15 days later on Feb. 6 in Madison.
• Powell led the Gophers' attack with a career-high 24 points. She was 7-of-17 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line while adding five rebounds and five assists.
• Masha Adashchyk joined Powell in establishing a career high as she tallied 15 points. Adashchyk also had six rebounds, four of which came on offense.
• Scalia also reached double figures with 16 points, highlighted by three 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Kehinde Bello made her first career start and pulled down a career and game-high 12 rebounds.
• Minnesota took control of the game in the first quarter, scoring 16 of the final 21 points in the frame to lead 18-9 after the first 10 minutes. The second quarter was all Gophers as they outscored the Badgers, 25-10. Powell scored 12 points in the frame, equaling the most scored by a Gopher in one quarter this season.
• A basket from Scalia midway through the third quarter gave the Gophers their largest lead of the game at 55-30. Wisconsin fought back, though, ending the quarter on a 14-4 run.
• The Badgers chipped away even further and got the game back within single digits. Minnesota led 64-58 with 2:40 to go, but Adashchyk gave the team breathing room with a 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down, pushing the lead back to double digits. Wisconsin's head coach was then called for a technical foul, and Powell converted on both free throws to make it a 13-point lead with less than two minutes remaining.
• The Gophers were 17-of-21 at the line for the game, including a 9-of-10 performance in the fourth quarter to help put the game away and claim their seventh straight win in Madison.
• The Gophers saw their 13-game win streak over the Badgers come to an end in a 72-62 loss on Jan. 22 in Minneapolis.
• 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 and Sara Scalia added 10.
• 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.
• Aided by a dominant first half, Minnesota forced a split in the Border Battle series with Wisconsin following a 73-64 win 15 days later on Feb. 6 in Madison.
• Powell led the Gophers' attack with a career-high 24 points. She was 7-of-17 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the line while adding five rebounds and five assists.
• Masha Adashchyk joined Powell in establishing a career high as she tallied 15 points. Adashchyk also had six rebounds, four of which came on offense.
• Scalia also reached double figures with 16 points, highlighted by three 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Kehinde Bello made her first career start and pulled down a career and game-high 12 rebounds.
• Minnesota took control of the game in the first quarter, scoring 16 of the final 21 points in the frame to lead 18-9 after the first 10 minutes. The second quarter was all Gophers as they outscored the Badgers, 25-10. Powell scored 12 points in the frame, equaling the most scored by a Gopher in one quarter this season.
• A basket from Scalia midway through the third quarter gave the Gophers their largest lead of the game at 55-30. Wisconsin fought back, though, ending the quarter on a 14-4 run.
• The Badgers chipped away even further and got the game back within single digits. Minnesota led 64-58 with 2:40 to go, but Adashchyk gave the team breathing room with a 3-pointer as the shot clock wound down, pushing the lead back to double digits. Wisconsin's head coach was then called for a technical foul, and Powell converted on both free throws to make it a 13-point lead with less than two minutes remaining.
• The Gophers were 17-of-21 at the line for the game, including a 9-of-10 performance in the fourth quarter to help put the game away and claim their seventh straight win in Madison.
RECAPPING THE GAME AGAINST INDIANA
• Minnesota closed out the 2020 calendar year with a 75-54 setback against then-No. 19/18 Indiana on Dec. 23 at Williams Arena.
• Jasmine Powell and Laura Bagwell Katalinich each reached double figures for the Golden Gophers, scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively.
• Powell added four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Bagwell Katalinich, who made her first start at Minnesota, also tied for the team lead with six rebounds along with Kadi Sissoko and took a pair of charges.
• Minnesota started the game strong and led after the first quarter, 16-15. Six different Gophers scored in the stanza, highlighted by Alexia Smith's 3-pointer at the buzzer to put Minnesota ahead. It was a better start for the Gophers, who entered the contest being outscored 23.8 to 14.0 in the first quarter this year.
• The Hoosiers showed why they are a top-25 team though in the second quarter, scoring the first seven points and 12 of the first 14. Minnesota closed the frame with a bit of momentum as Powell scored on a driving layup with three seconds left, though Indiana did have a 36-25 lead at intermission.
• Indiana extended the lead to 15 at 42-27 in the third, but Sara Scalia hit a 3-pointer and Bagwell Katalinich knocked down a pair of free throws to get it to a 10-point game with 7:29 to play in the third. Minnesota would get no closer though as Indiana scored five straight, and Minnesota was held without a point for over five minutes.
• Jasmine Powell and Laura Bagwell Katalinich each reached double figures for the Golden Gophers, scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively.
• Powell added four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Bagwell Katalinich, who made her first start at Minnesota, also tied for the team lead with six rebounds along with Kadi Sissoko and took a pair of charges.
• Minnesota started the game strong and led after the first quarter, 16-15. Six different Gophers scored in the stanza, highlighted by Alexia Smith's 3-pointer at the buzzer to put Minnesota ahead. It was a better start for the Gophers, who entered the contest being outscored 23.8 to 14.0 in the first quarter this year.
• The Hoosiers showed why they are a top-25 team though in the second quarter, scoring the first seven points and 12 of the first 14. Minnesota closed the frame with a bit of momentum as Powell scored on a driving layup with three seconds left, though Indiana did have a 36-25 lead at intermission.
• Indiana extended the lead to 15 at 42-27 in the third, but Sara Scalia hit a 3-pointer and Bagwell Katalinich knocked down a pair of free throws to get it to a 10-point game with 7:29 to play in the third. Minnesota would get no closer though as Indiana scored five straight, and Minnesota was held without a point for over five minutes.
GOPHERS GAINING EXPERIENCE WITH YOUNG ROSTER
• With nine of its 12 players either freshmen or sophomores, no team in the Big Ten has a higher percentage of its roster comprised of underclassmen than Minnesota. Wisconsin (73.3 percent) and Maryland (70) are the only other teams at 70 percent or higher.
• Through Dec. 31, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 8,416 minutes, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten. For comparison, Purdue leads the conference with a combined 15,350 minutes.
• Redshirt senior Gadiva Hubbard (3,001) accounts for over a third of the Gophers' career minutes herself. The other two upperclassmen are graduate transfer Laura Bagwell Katalinich (1,539) and junior Kayla Mershon (897). Bagwell Katalinich missed the first three games of the season due to injury, while Mershon sat out the first four due to NCAA transfer rules. Those three combine for nearly two-thirds of the Gophers' career minutes (5,437 minutes; 64.6 percent).
• Of the 12 Gophers on the roster this year, five are playing in their first season of collegiate basketball and three are playing in their first seasons at Minnesota.
• Meanwhile, Gadiva Hubbard (-2.0) and Sara Scalia (-5.2) have seen their playing time stay relatively similar to last year, while Jasmine Powell (+7.6) and Klarke Sconiers (+10.9) have both seen increases in their playing time.
SISSOKO, SCONIERS AMONG BIG TEN'S MOST IMPROVED
GOPHERS ENDURING CHALLENGING START TO SCHEDULE
• Through Dec. 31, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 8,416 minutes, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten. For comparison, Purdue leads the conference with a combined 15,350 minutes.
• Redshirt senior Gadiva Hubbard (3,001) accounts for over a third of the Gophers' career minutes herself. The other two upperclassmen are graduate transfer Laura Bagwell Katalinich (1,539) and junior Kayla Mershon (897). Bagwell Katalinich missed the first three games of the season due to injury, while Mershon sat out the first four due to NCAA transfer rules. Those three combine for nearly two-thirds of the Gophers' career minutes (5,437 minutes; 64.6 percent).
• Of the 12 Gophers on the roster this year, five are playing in their first season of collegiate basketball and three are playing in their first seasons at Minnesota.
• Meanwhile, Gadiva Hubbard (-2.0) and Sara Scalia (-5.2) have seen their playing time stay relatively similar to last year, while Jasmine Powell (+7.6) and Klarke Sconiers (+10.9) have both seen increases in their playing time.
SISSOKO, SCONIERS AMONG BIG TEN'S MOST IMPROVED
• Kadi Sissoko and Klarke Sconiers are among those in the Big Ten that have seen the biggest increases in either their scoring average or rebounding average.
• As a freshman at Syracuse in 2018-19, Sissoko averaged 3.2 points per game, but this year her scoring average stands at 13.2 per game. That increase of 10.0 is fifth best in the conference.
• When looking at most improved rebounders, both Sissoko and Sconiers rank among the top five in the Big Ten. Sissoko has gone from 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman to 6.8 this year to have the third best improvement, while Sconiers has jumped from 1.6 to 5.8 to rank seventh.
• As a freshman at Syracuse in 2018-19, Sissoko averaged 3.2 points per game, but this year her scoring average stands at 13.2 per game. That increase of 10.0 is fifth best in the conference.
• When looking at most improved rebounders, both Sissoko and Sconiers rank among the top five in the Big Ten. Sissoko has gone from 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman to 6.8 this year to have the third best improvement, while Sconiers has jumped from 1.6 to 5.8 to rank seventh.
GOPHERS ENDURING CHALLENGING START TO SCHEDULE
• Minnesota is 1-4 to start the season and 0-3 in Big Ten play, though the team has started the season against a difficult schedule.
• The five teams the Gophers have played have a combined record of 21-12 (.636), including an 18-8 (.692) mark for the teams against which they've lost.
• The .636 opponent win percentage for Minnesota is the second highest among Big Ten teams behind only Maryland (.667). Every other B1G team's opponent win percentage is under .590.
• All three losses for Minnesota within Big Ten play have come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25: No. 15 Northwestern (4-1), No. 20 Indiana (5-2) and No. 25 Michigan State (7-0).
• The five teams the Gophers have played have a combined record of 21-12 (.636), including an 18-8 (.692) mark for the teams against which they've lost.
• The .636 opponent win percentage for Minnesota is the second highest among Big Ten teams behind only Maryland (.667). Every other B1G team's opponent win percentage is under .590.
• All three losses for Minnesota within Big Ten play have come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25: No. 15 Northwestern (4-1), No. 20 Indiana (5-2) and No. 25 Michigan State (7-0).
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