Minnesota Goes for Third Straight Wednesday at Rutgers

MINNEAPOLIS -- Winners of two in a row and five of its last seven, Minnesota (7-9, 6-8 Big Ten) is back on the road Wednesday when it visits RV/RV Rutgers (8-3, 4-3 B1G) at 6 p.m. CT.

The contest against the Scarlet Knights, which is the only scheduled matchup between the schools this year, will be streamed on Big Ten Network Plus and can be heard on the Gophers' radio home, 96.7 FM KFAN Plus.

THE OPENING TIP-OFF

• Jasmine Powell leads the Gophers with a scoring average of 15.5 points per game this season. She has scored at least 11 points in 17 of the past 18 contests dating to last year. In addition to her scoring prowess, which ranks 16th in the Big Ten, Powell is second in the conference and 15th nationally with her 5.7 assists per game.

• Powell is one of only three players in the country with her averages of at least 15.5 points and 5.7 assists this year along with Iowa's Caitlin Clark (26.7 points, 6.5 assists) and UConn's Paige Bueckers (21.1, 5.7).

• After missing the first two games of the season, Sara Scalia averaged 8.0 points over her first three contests and was shooting 23.5 percent from the floor (8-34) and 20 percent on 3-pointers (4-20). However, she has averaged 17.3 points over her last 10 contests while shooting 39.4 percent on field goals (56-142) and 38.3 percent on 3's (36-94). She missed the Jan. 10 contest with Penn State but has scored at least 11 points in each of those 10 games, including a career-high 30 against Purdue on Jan. 28. It was the first 30-point game by the Gophers since Dec. of 2018.

• Scalia has made two or more 3-pointers in each of the last 10 outings, including five games with at least four made and a career-best six vs. the Boilermakers on Jan. 28. She is currently third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally with 3.08 made 3's per game. Scalia is also second in the conference in 3-pointers attempted (114), third in 3's made (40) and sixth in 3-point percentage (.351). Her career mark of .361 ranks ninth in program history.

• Kadi Sissoko is the team's top rebounder (6.8 per game), and she ranks fourth in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game (3.3) and 16th in rebounding average. Sissoko has recorded two double-doubles this season and has been close to adding to that total in three other games with 8 points and 9 rebounds at Nebraska (1/19), 15 points and 8 boards at Penn State (1/25) and 13 points with 9 rebounds at Ohio State (2/7). She's also recorded three 20-point games, including 20 against Wisconsin last Sunday. She has shot 7-of-9 from the floor in each of the last two games, and she's 19-of-26 (73.1 percent) on field goals over her last three contests. That has brought her season shooting average up from .379 to .424 as a result.

• The Gophers are 3-3 on the road this season with wins at Wisconsin, Nebraska and Penn State and losses at Northwestern, Iowa and Ohio State. Sissoko is nearly averaging a double-double away from home with a team-high 14.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. In fact, her two double-doubles this season both came on the road with 16 points and 10 rebounds against the Badgers and 20 points and 10 rebounds vs. the Hawkeyes. Also averaging double figures for Minnesota on the road are Gadiva Hubbard (13.8), Scalia (13.7) and Powell (13.3).

FACING RUTGERS

• Minnesota and Rutgers meet for just the 10th time ever Wednesday. The Scarlet Knights hold a slight 5-4 lead in the all-time series, though the series is tied at 4-4 since they joined the Big Ten.

• The home team has won every game in the series as Rutgers is 5-0 in Piscataway, while Minnesota has won all four meetings in Minneapolis.

• Minnesota freshman Alexia Smith and Rutgers freshman Sakima Walker were high school teammates at Africentric Early College in Columbus, Ohio. They won two state titles together and reached the state semifinals in 2020 before COVID-19 ended the season early.

• Rutgers is 8-3 on the season and 4-3 in the Big Ten. After losing to Nebraska on Jan. 3, the Scarlet Knights had to have their next eight games postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. However, they returned to the court on Feb. 7 and have won all three games since resuming.

• Four Rutgers players are currently averaging double figures with Arella Guirantes leading the way at 22.0 points per game, a number that is third in the Big Ten and 16th nationally. Diamond Johnson is second on the squad in scoring at 17.9 per game, while Tekia Mack (12.4) and Zipporah Broughton (11.3) are behind them.

• Guirantes leads the Big Ten in both free throw percentage (91.8; 9th nationally) and minutes per game (36.85). She had a triple-double with 17 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds against Manhattan on Dec. 23.

• Johnson is 30-of-60 on 3-pointers this year for the second best 3-point percentage in the Big Ten and fifth best in the country.

• As a team, Rutgers leads the conference in steals per game (13.4; 4th nationally), scoring margin (+22.5; 7th), turnovers forced per game (21.18; 8th) and scoring defense (56.9 points per game). In addition, the Scarlet Knights are second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+8.00; 5th nationally), 3-point percentage (38.0; 15th) and blocks per game (5.2).

LAST SEASON AGAINST THE SCARLET KNIGHTS

• Led by a career day from Taiye Bello, Minnesota outlasted Rutgers last season 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.

• Jasmine 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.

• 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 scored off an offensive rebound 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.

LAST TIME IN PISCATAWAY

• Minnesota lost its last game in Piscataway, 60-54, on Feb. 28, 2019.

• Destiny Pitts scored a team-high 24 points and was joined in double figures by Kenisha Bell, who had 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.

• In the second quarter, Minnesota was up one at 17-16, but Pitts helped give separation as she knocked down 3-pointers on three straight possessions to go on a personal 9-2 run. She scored 11 points in total in the frame, and Minnesota led 30-25 at the half.

• Another 3-pointer from Pitts put the Gophers ahead 37-28 with 6:43 to play in the third quarter, their largest lead of the game. However, Rutgers responded with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to just one. Pitts put a stop to the run with another 3-pointer, and Minnesota entered the fourth quarter up 42-38.

• Rutgers tied the game on multiple occasions early in the fourth before taking the lead for the first time since the first quarter when it went up 46-44. Pitts tied the game back on the Gophers' ensuing possession, but free throws put Rutgers back on top for good with 6:20 to play.

RECAPPING THE WIN OVER WISCONSIN

• Minnesota never trailed in Sunday's 68-63 victory over Wisconsin at Williams Arena.

• Minnesota's sophomore trio of Kadi Sissoko, Sara Scalia and Jasmine Powell carried the day, accounting for 52 of the team's 68 points.

• Sissoko led the Gophers with 20 points (her third time reaching that mark this season) and seven rebounds. Scalia scored 17 points thanks to five 3-pointers, while Powell scored 15 points with nine coming in the fourth quarter alone.

• Minnesota opened the game on a 12-4 run and held an 18-10 cushion after the first quarter. Wisconsin closed the deficit, though, in the second quarter and used a 14-5 run to trim the lead to just one at 27-26 with 2:12 to go in the first half. Scalia hit a 3-pointer and Alexia Smith scored on a layup to push the lead back and Minnesota entered the half with a 32-28 lead.

• After scoring the first five points of the third quarter to lead 37-28, the Gophers' lead never got lower than six points for the remainder of the game. A strong performance at the free throw line, 6-of-8 in the fourth quarter and 13-of-16 for the game, kept the lead in the Gophers' favor.

• The Badgers recorded season lows for Minnesota opponents in points (63), field goal attempts (53), 3-pointers made and attempted (1-of-7) and 3-point percentage (.143).

POWELL, GOPHERS IMPROVING FROM LONG RANGE

• Jasmine Powell has improved her 3-point shooting between the first two years of her career.

• As a freshman, Powell was 30-of-100 on 3-pointers, shooting 30 percent from long range and making 0.96 3-pointers per contest over 31 games. But this year in just 16 games, she's already 37-of-102 on 3's while shooting 36.3 percent and making 2.31 per game.

• She ranks fourth in the Big Ten in 3-pointers made, and fifth in 3's attempted, 3's made per game and 3-point percentage.

• This season, Powell has made at least two 3-pointers in 11 of 16 contests, including nine games with at least three made and three games of a career-high four made 3's. She's made at least three 3-pointers in seven of her last 11 outings.

• As a team, the Gophers have seen notable improvement in 3-pointers as of late. Through the first eight games, the team was shooting a combined 28.6 percent (57-199) from long range, but in the eight games since they're shooting 38.3 percent (70-183).

• During the recent stretch, Powell is 17-42 (40.5 percent) on 3's, Sara Scalia is 29-76 (38.2) and Gadiva Hubbard is 7-20 (35.0). Seven Gophers have attempted five or more 3's in the last seven games and six boast a shooting percentage of at least .333 in that span.

• The team ranks second in the Big Ten in 3-pointers attempted (382), third in 3-pointers made (127) and made per game (7.9) and fifth in percentage (.332).

SISSOKO THE BIG TEN'S MOST IMPROVED SCORER

• Kadi Sissoko has recorded the biggest increases in both scoring and rebounding average in all of the Big Ten from her last season of competition to this year.

• As a freshman at Syracuse in 2018-19, Sissoko averaged 3.2 points per game. But this year, her scoring average stands at 13.1. That increase of 9.9 points per game is best in the Big Ten.

• Sissoko is also first among the most improved rebounders in the league as she has gone from 1.8 rebounds per game as a freshman to 6.8 this year.

GOPHERS EXCELLING AT THE LINE

• One of Minnesota's biggest strengths this year has been the team's performance at the free throw line. The Gophers are 208-273, good for a .762 percentage that ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 30th in the country.

• Minnesota has shot 80 percent or better from the free throw line in six games this season, including each of the last three contests: 13-16 (81.3 percent) against Wisconsin, 20-23 (87.0) against Illinois and 12-15 (80.0) at Ohio State.

• The team's best performance was a 13-14 mark versus Maryland on Jan. 14, a 92.9 percent effort.

• Minnesota has been particularly good late in contests, 78.9 percent on free throws in the fourth quarter and 78.6 percent in the fourth quarter and overtime combined this season.

• Eight Gophers have attempted at least 10 free throws this year and six have percentages at 70 percent or higher. Sara Scalia leads the way at 96.7 percent (29-30), while Gadiva Hubbard is at 88.5 percent (23-26).

BIG TEN RANKINGS

• The Gophers have four players averaging double figures in Big Ten play with Sara Scalia leading the way at 15.0 points per game. Jasmine Powell is behind her at 14.6, while Kadi Sissoko is at 11.8 and Gadiva Hubbard is averaging 11.5 points per game. Sissoko also has a team-best 6.5 rebounds per contest in B1G play.

• In Big Ten play, the Gophers rank third in 3's made per game (8.15), fourth in free throw percentage (.765) and fifth in 3-point percentage (.334).

• Powell ranks fourth in assists per game (5.46), fifth in 3's made per game (2.38), 10th in free throw percentage (.788) and 15th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.34).

• Scalia is third in 3's made per game (2.92), fourth in 3-point percentage (.343) and 20th in scoring.

• Sissoko sits fifth in offensive rebounds (3.08) and 17th in rebounding average (6.54).

• Klarke Sconiers ranks 12th in blocks per game (0.92).

GOPHERS FACING ONE OF BIG TEN'S TOUGHEST SCHEDULES

• The Gophers have four players averaging double figures in Big Ten play with Sara Scalia leading the way at 15.2 points per game. Jasmine Powell is behind her at 14.6, while Kadi Sissoko is at 12.4 and Gadiva Hubbard is averaging 11.5 points per game. Sissoko also has a team-best 6.6 rebounds per contest in B1G play.

• In Big Ten play, the Gophers rank third in 3's made per game (8.21), fourth in free throw percentage (.768), fifth in 3-point percentage (.337) and sixth in assists per game (15.50), offensive rebounds per game (12.36) and offensive rebounding rate (.322).

• Powell ranks fourth in assists per game (5.43), sixth in 3's made per game (2.29) and eighth in free throw percentage (.783).

• Scalia is third in 3's made per game (3.08), fourth in 3-point percentage (.351) and 20th in scoring.

• Sissoko sits fifth in offensive rebounds (2.93) and 17th in rebounding average (6.57).

• Klarke Sconiers ranks 11th in blocks per game (0.93).

HUBBARD HEATING UP BEFORE INJURY

• Gadiva Hubbard has missed the last five games due to an injury suffered late in the Gophers' win at Penn State on Jan. 25. It came at an unfortunate time (as any injury does) as she was starting to heat up.

• After scoring a season-high 24 points at Wisconsin (1/3), Hubbard had her scoring average at a season-best 12.8 points per game. However, she scored only 14 points in her next three games while shooting 24.0 percent from the floor (6-25) and 5.9 percent on 3's (1-17).

• She then broke out of that mini-slump, though, by scoring 18 points in each of her last two games and improving her shooting: 11-22 from the field (50.0 percent) and 7-17 (41.2) on 3's. Despite missing those five games, her scoring average is back up to 11.5 per contest and she's averaged 6.5 rebounds in her last two games after posting 3.1 over her first nine games.

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Players Mentioned

Kenisha Bell

Taiye Bello

Gadiva Hubbard

Destiny Pitts

Jasmine Powell

Sara Scalia

Klarke Sconiers

Kadi Sissoko

Alexia Smith