University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, January 6
Iowa City, Iowa
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Iowa
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Minnesota Visits Border Rival Iowa Wednesday Night
1/5/2021 1:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS -- Playing for the second time in four days, Minnesota women's basketball (2-4, 1-3 B1G) is back in action Wednesday at RV/RV Iowa (7-1, 3-1) at 6 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 IOWA
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE HAWKEYES
RECAPPING THE WIN AT WISCONSIN
GOPHERS GAINING EXPERIENCE WITH YOUNG ROSTER
GOPHERS ENDURING CHALLENGING START TO SCHEDULE
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
• The Gophers are 1-1 on the road this season, losing at then-No. 16/17 Northwestern on Dec. 14 but prevailing Sunday at Wisconsin. Gadiva Hubbard is the team's leading scorer so far on the road at 15.5 points per game, while Kadi Sissoko (15.0) and Jasmine Powell (13.0) are also in double figures. Sissoko is the team's top rebounder away from home at 9.5 boards per game.
• In Big Ten play, Powell and Hubbard are tied for the team lead with 13.5 points per game. Sissoko is not far behind them with a scoring average of 11.5, and she is also the team's top rebounder in league play at 6.8 rebounds per contest.
• Powell leads the Gophers with a scoring average of 16.2 points per game this season. She has scored at least 11 points in each of the last eight games dating to last season. In addition to her scoring prowess, which ranks 17th in the Big Ten, Powell is third in the conference and 13th nationally with her 6.0 assists per game and ranks fourth in the Big Ten by playing 34.81 minutes per game.
• In the season opener, 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). Sissoko leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game (4.0) and is 13th in rebounding average (7.3). She is one of five B1G players to be averaging at least 13.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
• After missing the first three games of the season due to injury, Laura Bagwell Katalinich has found her groove with the Gophers and is averaging 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in three games played this year, including 13.0 points and 5.5 rebounds over her last two contests. 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.
• After scoring 13 points in her previous two games combined, Hubbard broke out for 24 points Sunday at Wisconsin, including 19 in the second half and nine in the overtime session. It was her highest point total since also scoring 24 points vs. UC Davis in December of 2019. Hubbard is 15-of-16 on free throws this year to rank second in the Big Ten in percentage (.938) and 30th in the nation. She has made 11 straight from the charity stripe.
• In Big Ten play, Powell and Hubbard are tied for the team lead with 13.5 points per game. Sissoko is not far behind them with a scoring average of 11.5, and she is also the team's top rebounder in league play at 6.8 rebounds per contest.
• Powell leads the Gophers with a scoring average of 16.2 points per game this season. She has scored at least 11 points in each of the last eight games dating to last season. In addition to her scoring prowess, which ranks 17th in the Big Ten, Powell is third in the conference and 13th nationally with her 6.0 assists per game and ranks fourth in the Big Ten by playing 34.81 minutes per game.
• In the season opener, 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). Sissoko leads the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game (4.0) and is 13th in rebounding average (7.3). She is one of five B1G players to be averaging at least 13.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
• After missing the first three games of the season due to injury, Laura Bagwell Katalinich has found her groove with the Gophers and is averaging 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in three games played this year, including 13.0 points and 5.5 rebounds over her last two contests. 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.
• After scoring 13 points in her previous two games combined, Hubbard broke out for 24 points Sunday at Wisconsin, including 19 in the second half and nine in the overtime session. It was her highest point total since also scoring 24 points vs. UC Davis in December of 2019. Hubbard is 15-of-16 on free throws this year to rank second in the Big Ten in percentage (.938) and 30th in the nation. She has made 11 straight from the charity stripe.
FACING IOWA
• Renewing its most-played rivalry, Minnesota visits Iowa Wednesday in the 81st meeting between the schools. The Gophers trail in the all-time series 53-27.
• Iowa won both matchups a year ago and has won three straight in the series. Prior to that, there were nine straight contests where the team's alternated wins and losses, dating to Jan. of 2014.
• Like with the overall series, Minnesota has faced Iowa on the road more than any other team and trails, 30-8, in Iowa City. The Gophers have lost 10 straight at Carver-Hawkeye, its longest active road losing streak. Their last win there came on Jan. 25, 2007. The next longest streak is eight straight losses at Michigan State.
• Minnesota has two Iowans on its roster in redshirt freshmen Grace Cumming (Roosevelt HS) and Justice Ross (East HS), both of whom hail from Des Moines. Conversely, Iowa has two Minnesotans on its roster: sophomore Monika Czinano from Watertown and Watertown-Mayer High School and freshman Lauren Jensen from Lakeville and Lakeville North HS.
• Czinano's sister, Maggie, signed an NLI with Minnesota in November and will join the Gophers next season.
• Iowa is 7-1 on the season and 3-1 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have won three in a row overall and 41 straight at home. That's the second longest home win streak in the country behind only Baylor (61).
• The Hawkeyes and Gophers have had three common opponents this season. Both teams recorded wins over Wisconsin and both lost to Michigan State. Iowa beat Drake, however, while the Gophers fell to the Bulldogs.
• Caitlin Clarke leads the team with 26.4 points per game, while Czinano (19.4) and McKenna Warnock (15.0) are also in double figures. Warnock is also the team's top rebounder at 8.6 rebounds per contest.
• As a team, Iowa leads the Big Ten in free throws made (137), free throw percentage (.792) and 3-pointers attempted (190). The Hawkeyes 92.1 points per game rank third in the conference but fourth nationally, and they are also fifth in the country in field goal percentage (.512) and 10th in assists per game (19.6).
• Clark, who has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times in six weeks of games, leads the league in several categories including scoring (26.4, 4th nationally), assists (52; 7th), assists per game (6.5; 7th), field goals made and attempted (70-154; 9th in both) and 3's attempted (69; 12th).
• Czinano is atop the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.688; 4th nationally).
• Iowa won both matchups a year ago and has won three straight in the series. Prior to that, there were nine straight contests where the team's alternated wins and losses, dating to Jan. of 2014.
• Like with the overall series, Minnesota has faced Iowa on the road more than any other team and trails, 30-8, in Iowa City. The Gophers have lost 10 straight at Carver-Hawkeye, its longest active road losing streak. Their last win there came on Jan. 25, 2007. The next longest streak is eight straight losses at Michigan State.
• Minnesota has two Iowans on its roster in redshirt freshmen Grace Cumming (Roosevelt HS) and Justice Ross (East HS), both of whom hail from Des Moines. Conversely, Iowa has two Minnesotans on its roster: sophomore Monika Czinano from Watertown and Watertown-Mayer High School and freshman Lauren Jensen from Lakeville and Lakeville North HS.
• Czinano's sister, Maggie, signed an NLI with Minnesota in November and will join the Gophers next season.
• Iowa is 7-1 on the season and 3-1 in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have won three in a row overall and 41 straight at home. That's the second longest home win streak in the country behind only Baylor (61).
• The Hawkeyes and Gophers have had three common opponents this season. Both teams recorded wins over Wisconsin and both lost to Michigan State. Iowa beat Drake, however, while the Gophers fell to the Bulldogs.
• Caitlin Clarke leads the team with 26.4 points per game, while Czinano (19.4) and McKenna Warnock (15.0) are also in double figures. Warnock is also the team's top rebounder at 8.6 rebounds per contest.
• As a team, Iowa leads the Big Ten in free throws made (137), free throw percentage (.792) and 3-pointers attempted (190). The Hawkeyes 92.1 points per game rank third in the conference but fourth nationally, and they are also fifth in the country in field goal percentage (.512) and 10th in assists per game (19.6).
• Clark, who has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week five times in six weeks of games, leads the league in several categories including scoring (26.4, 4th nationally), assists (52; 7th), assists per game (6.5; 7th), field goals made and attempted (70-154; 9th in both) and 3's attempted (69; 12th).
• Czinano is atop the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.688; 4th nationally).
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE HAWKEYES
• Iowa won both games a year ago, but by just nine points combined.
• Minnesota took then-No. 22/24 Iowa to the wire but couldn't quite pull off the upset of the Hawkeyes in a 76-75 loss Jan. 16 at Williams Arena.
• Sara Scalia was one of three in double figures for the Gophers as she recorded the first double-double of her career with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
• Gadiva Hubbard matched Scalia with 18 points of her own, while Jasmine Brunson tallied 16 points and six assists while playing all 40 minutes.
• Minnesota led by one after the opening quarter, then outscored the Hawkeyes, 24-17, in the second quarter to lead 43-35 at halftime. The Gophers held a double-digit lead for most of the third quarter and led 66-57 entering the fourth.
• A basket from Hubbard gave Minnesota a 70-57 lead with 9:08 remaining but Iowa went on a 13-2 over the next seven minutes to get within 72-70 with 2:50 to play. Brunson hit a bucket in the paint but Iowa's Makenzie Meyer's 3-pointer made it a one-point game with 1:10 to play.
• A block on the Gophers' next possession was followed by a go-ahead 3 in the corner from the Hawkeyes' Alexis Sevillian with 8.8 seconds remaining. Minnesota had a chance to tie when Hubbard was fouled with 0.7 seconds left, but she made one of two free throws.
• On Feb. 27 in Iowa City, five players scored in double figures for Minnesota as the Golden Gophers took No. 18/20 Iowa to the limit in a 90-82 loss.
• Hubbard led Minnesota with 20 points, while Bello was behind her with 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds, and Brunson added 14 and four assists.
• Jasmine Powell was an assist shy of her first career double-double as she posted 15 points and a career-high nine assists. Scalia scored 12 points on four 3's.
• Down 25-15 after the first 10 minutes, the Gophers battled back to get within 27-25 only to see Iowa pull back in front 40-28 with just under four minutes to play in the second quarter. Minnesota rallied again and closed the first half on a 15-6 run to be down just 46-43 at intermission.
• Minnesota extended the run to 19-6 as it scored the first four points of the third quarter on back-to-back baskets from Hubbard and Powell to take the lead at 47-46. Iowa scored the next six points, though, and took a 74-63 lead into the fourth.
• The Golden Gophers chipped away at the lead to start the fourth as a layup from Bello was followed by a 3-pointer from Hubbard, cutting the lead to just six with 7:39 to play. The Hawkeyes got their lead back up to 80-73 before Powell hit a free throw and Brunson knocked down a 3-pointer to make it an 80-77 game with 3:19 to play.
• Iowa scored on its next two possessions, however, kicking off a 10-2 run to close the game out. Monika Czinano and Meyer each scored 24 points for the Hawkeyes to lead all scorers.
• Minnesota took then-No. 22/24 Iowa to the wire but couldn't quite pull off the upset of the Hawkeyes in a 76-75 loss Jan. 16 at Williams Arena.
• Sara Scalia was one of three in double figures for the Gophers as she recorded the first double-double of her career with 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
• Gadiva Hubbard matched Scalia with 18 points of her own, while Jasmine Brunson tallied 16 points and six assists while playing all 40 minutes.
• Minnesota led by one after the opening quarter, then outscored the Hawkeyes, 24-17, in the second quarter to lead 43-35 at halftime. The Gophers held a double-digit lead for most of the third quarter and led 66-57 entering the fourth.
• A basket from Hubbard gave Minnesota a 70-57 lead with 9:08 remaining but Iowa went on a 13-2 over the next seven minutes to get within 72-70 with 2:50 to play. Brunson hit a bucket in the paint but Iowa's Makenzie Meyer's 3-pointer made it a one-point game with 1:10 to play.
• A block on the Gophers' next possession was followed by a go-ahead 3 in the corner from the Hawkeyes' Alexis Sevillian with 8.8 seconds remaining. Minnesota had a chance to tie when Hubbard was fouled with 0.7 seconds left, but she made one of two free throws.
• On Feb. 27 in Iowa City, five players scored in double figures for Minnesota as the Golden Gophers took No. 18/20 Iowa to the limit in a 90-82 loss.
• Hubbard led Minnesota with 20 points, while Bello was behind her with 16 points and a team-high seven rebounds, and Brunson added 14 and four assists.
• Jasmine Powell was an assist shy of her first career double-double as she posted 15 points and a career-high nine assists. Scalia scored 12 points on four 3's.
• Down 25-15 after the first 10 minutes, the Gophers battled back to get within 27-25 only to see Iowa pull back in front 40-28 with just under four minutes to play in the second quarter. Minnesota rallied again and closed the first half on a 15-6 run to be down just 46-43 at intermission.
• Minnesota extended the run to 19-6 as it scored the first four points of the third quarter on back-to-back baskets from Hubbard and Powell to take the lead at 47-46. Iowa scored the next six points, though, and took a 74-63 lead into the fourth.
• The Golden Gophers chipped away at the lead to start the fourth as a layup from Bello was followed by a 3-pointer from Hubbard, cutting the lead to just six with 7:39 to play. The Hawkeyes got their lead back up to 80-73 before Powell hit a free throw and Brunson knocked down a 3-pointer to make it an 80-77 game with 3:19 to play.
• Iowa scored on its next two possessions, however, kicking off a 10-2 run to close the game out. Monika Czinano and Meyer each scored 24 points for the Hawkeyes to lead all scorers.
RECAPPING THE WIN AT WISCONSIN
• Minnesota captured its first Big Ten win of the season in an 88-83 overtime thriller at Wisconsin Sunday.
• The Gophers scored the first seven points of OT and finished with 18 total in the frame to tie a program record for points in an overtime period. The victory was their eighth straight in Madison, extending the team's longest active road win streak against one school.
• Gadiva Hubbard was one of five Gophers in double figures, notching a season-high 24 points. Nineteen of her 24 points came in the second half, including nine alone in the overtime session.
• Kadi Sissoko recorded her first career double-double, and the first by a Gopher this season, with 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. She added a career-best five assists.
• Matching Sissoko with 16 points was Laura Bagwell Katalinich, marking a season high. Also in double figures were Jasmine Powell and Sara Scalia, who each scored 11 points. All 11 of Scalia's season-high points came in the first half as she was limited to just four minutes of action in the second half due to injury, while Powell tied Sissoko for the team lead with five assists.
• Tied at 70-70 following regulation, the Gophers jumped out to a 77-70 lead in less than two minutes as Bagwell Katalinich hit a jumper, Alexia Smith forced a steal and a fastbreak layup and Powell hit a 3-pointer.
• The lead remained at seven for the Gophers with 2:01 to play, but Wisconsin scored five in a row and had a chance to tie the game or take the lead with 23 seconds left. However, the Badgers were issued a technical foul for calling a timeout when they did not have any left. Hubbard stepped to the line and made both free throws, then made two more free throws when Wisconsin was forced to foul.
• The Gophers scored the first seven points of OT and finished with 18 total in the frame to tie a program record for points in an overtime period. The victory was their eighth straight in Madison, extending the team's longest active road win streak against one school.
• Gadiva Hubbard was one of five Gophers in double figures, notching a season-high 24 points. Nineteen of her 24 points came in the second half, including nine alone in the overtime session.
• Kadi Sissoko recorded her first career double-double, and the first by a Gopher this season, with 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. She added a career-best five assists.
• Matching Sissoko with 16 points was Laura Bagwell Katalinich, marking a season high. Also in double figures were Jasmine Powell and Sara Scalia, who each scored 11 points. All 11 of Scalia's season-high points came in the first half as she was limited to just four minutes of action in the second half due to injury, while Powell tied Sissoko for the team lead with five assists.
• Tied at 70-70 following regulation, the Gophers jumped out to a 77-70 lead in less than two minutes as Bagwell Katalinich hit a jumper, Alexia Smith forced a steal and a fastbreak layup and Powell hit a 3-pointer.
• The lead remained at seven for the Gophers with 2:01 to play, but Wisconsin scored five in a row and had a chance to tie the game or take the lead with 23 seconds left. However, the Badgers were issued a technical foul for calling a timeout when they did not have any left. Hubbard stepped to the line and made both free throws, then made two more free throws when Wisconsin was forced to foul.
GOPHERS GAINING EXPERIENCE WITH YOUNG ROSTER
• With 10 of its 13 players either freshmen or sophomores, no team in the Big Ten has a higher percentage of its roster comprised of underclassmen than Minnesota's 76.9 percent. Wisconsin (73.3 percent) and Maryland (70) are the only other teams at 70 percent or higher.
• Through Jan. 4, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 8,641 minutes, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten. For comparison, Purdue leads the conference with a combined 15,550 minutes.
• Redshirt senior Gadiva Hubbard (3,033) accounts for over a third of the Gophers' career minutes herself. The other two upperclassmen are graduate transfer Laura Bagwell Katalinich (1,568) and junior Kayla Mershon (915). Bagwell Katalinich missed the first three games this 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 (5,516 minutes; 63.8 percent).
• Of the 13 Gophers on the roster this year, six are playing in their first season of collegiate basketball and three are playing in their first year at Minnesota.
• Meanwhile, Gadiva Hubbard (-1.8 minutes per game) and Sara Scalia (-6.4) have seen their playing time stay relatively similar to last year, while Jasmine Powell (+8.7) and Klarke Sconiers (+9.1) have both seen increases in their playing time.
SISSOKO, SCONIERS AMONG BIG TEN'S MOST IMPROVED
• Through Jan. 4, the Gophers' roster had played a combined 8,641 minutes, which ranks 10th in the Big Ten. For comparison, Purdue leads the conference with a combined 15,550 minutes.
• Redshirt senior Gadiva Hubbard (3,033) accounts for over a third of the Gophers' career minutes herself. The other two upperclassmen are graduate transfer Laura Bagwell Katalinich (1,568) and junior Kayla Mershon (915). Bagwell Katalinich missed the first three games this 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 (5,516 minutes; 63.8 percent).
• Of the 13 Gophers on the roster this year, six are playing in their first season of collegiate basketball and three are playing in their first year at Minnesota.
• Meanwhile, Gadiva Hubbard (-1.8 minutes per game) and Sara Scalia (-6.4) have seen their playing time stay relatively similar to last year, while Jasmine Powell (+8.7) and Klarke Sconiers (+9.1) 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 10.5 points per game is third best in the conference.
• When looking at most improved rebounders, Sissoko currently leads the Big Ten as she has gone from 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman to 7.3 this year, while Sconiers has jumped from 1.6 to 5.2 to tie for 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 10.5 points per game is third best in the conference.
• When looking at most improved rebounders, Sissoko currently leads the Big Ten as she has gone from 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman to 7.3 this year, while Sconiers has jumped from 1.6 to 5.2 to tie for seventh.
GOPHERS ENDURING CHALLENGING START TO SCHEDULE
• Minnesota is 2-4 to start the season and 1-3 in Big Ten play, though the team has started the season against a difficult schedule.
• The six teams the Gophers have played have a combined record of 26-20 (.565), including an 20-11 (.645) mark for the teams against which they've lost.
• All three losses within Big Ten play have come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25: No. No. 19 Indiana (5-3), 22 Northwestern (4-2) and No. 23 Michigan State (8-0).
• The six teams the Gophers have played have a combined record of 26-20 (.565), including an 20-11 (.645) mark for the teams against which they've lost.
• All three losses within Big Ten play have come against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25: No. No. 19 Indiana (5-3), 22 Northwestern (4-2) and No. 23 Michigan State (8-0).
The Story Behind The Photos | Episode 7
Friday, September 05
The Story Behind The Photos | Episode 6
Tuesday, September 02
The Story Behind The Photos | Episode 5
Monday, August 25
Lake Day | WBB Summer Workouts
Tuesday, August 12